Dan Hooker would like to see the whole ‘BMF' championship put to rest for now.
MMA
Cain Velasquez released from prison on parole after serving his sentence in 2022. Cain Velasquez shooting case released from prison on parole after serving his sentence
Published
9 months agoon
(Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)San Jose, California On Sunday, multiple outlets reported that former two-time Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez had been released from prison on parole after serving a sentence related to a controversial 2022 shooting incident.
Velasquez, 43, announced the development on his social media accounts, confirming that he had been granted early parole and released from custody on February 15, 2026. According to reports, the longtime MMA star can now pursue his personal and professional interests outside of prison, including planning a one-day breathing seminar in the San Jose area.
Background: 2022 shooting incident and sentencing
Velasquez’s imprisonment follows a high-profile incident from 2022 in which he chased a vehicle containing a man he believed had molested his adolescent child and fired a gun. During the chase, another person – the defendant’s stepfather – was hit by a bullet but survived with non-life-threatening injuries. Velasquez was later arrested and charged with multiple crimes, including attempted murder.
In March 2025, a Santa Clara County judge sentenced Velasquez to five years in prison, with credit for time served in prison and house arrest, significantly reducing the time he would spend behind bars.
Under California law, inmates can receive credit for time already served – including time in custody and monitored home confinement – as well as for participation in rehabilitation programs. These reductions, combined with good behavior provisions, made Velasquez eligible for parole earlier than his original sentence indicated.
Velasquez’s reaction and plans for the future
After his release, Velasquez shared his first plans after leaving prison on social media and thanked his fans. In his statement, he suggested organizing a holotropic breathing seminar in the San Jose area, describing breathing as a tool that helped him “physically, mentally and spiritually.”
“I am considering the idea of organizing a one-day holotropic breathing seminar in the San Jose area,” he wrote, adding that the practice was crucial to him.
Velasquez’s announcement also marks a shift toward personal well-being and social engagement, rather than an immediate return to competition. At 43 years ancient and Velasquez’s last professional fight was in 2019, Velasquez’s sporting comeback seems unlikely, but his next chapter outside the cage remains a topic of interest for fans and the martial arts community.
MMA Legacy and polarized case
Velasquez remains one of the most influential heavyweights in MMA history, known for his high-pressure wrestling, cardio and title victories during his prime. His release has once again sparked debate across the sport, with reactions ranging from support to criticism of the legal outcome.
The case itself – concerning a deeply emotional family situation – sparked widespread interest and debate both in the MMA world and in the mainstream media. Velasquez has already admitted in court to the recklessness of his actions, expressing remorse for the way he acted in the situation.
The legal proceedings are still ongoing
Although Velasquez’s prison sentence is now behind him, related legal issues continue. The man who was the alleged target of the 2022 shooting – Harry Goularte Jr. – is scheduled to appear in court in 2026 on separate charges of lewd acts with a minor.
This broader saga has been one of the most elaborate intersections of sports, personal tragedy and the American criminal justice system in recent years.
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MMA
Arman Tsarukyan sets one condition for fighting Alexander Volkanovski
Published
7 hours agoon
November 3, 2026
Tsarukyan is open to fighting Alexander
Volkanovski, provided
Ultimate Fighting Championship gold is at stake.
Volkanovski (29-4) defended the featherweight title with a
technical knockout victory over Movsar
Evloev at
UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi before expressing interest in returning to
lightweight. With champion Justin
Gaethje uncertain about his future, Volkanovski offered to face
Tsarukyan (24-3) for the vacant title if Gaethje retires.
Arman Tsarukyan reminds Alexander Volkanovski how Islam
Makhachev rematch ended
Tsarukyan said the championship matters more to him than the
opponent.
“I'm ready for everyone,†Tsarukyan told Yavuz Saynomo. “For me, it
doesn't matter who I'm gonna fight; I just want to fight for the
title.â€
Volkanovski has expressed confidence that he can counter
Tsarukyan's wrestling and avoid being held down. Tsarukyan
responded by recalling the Australian's knockout loss to Islam
Makhachev.
“He said Islam Makhachev cannot knock him out, too,†Tsarukyan
added.
Volkanovski has twice challenged Makhachev for the lightweight
championship. He lost their first meeting by unanimous decision
before Makhachev finished their rematch with a head kick and
follow-up punches.
Tsarukyan remains confident that his next bout will be for the
title. If Gaethje retires, “The Batman†expects to compete for the
vacant belt.
“I have a title fight next,†Tsarukyan reiterated. “Either Justin
Gaethje. If he is retired, someone else.â€
MMA
Dan Hooker blames Charles Oliveira, UFC for tarnishing ‘BMF’ title: ‘He killed it’
Published
8 hours agoon
November 3, 2026
The symbolic title is up for grabs again on Dec. 12 at UFC 335, when champion Charles Oliveira faces Diego Lopes in the main event. Oliveira won the belt with a dominant decision win over Max Holloway at UFC 326, but received criticism for his grappling-heavy performance, which was considered to be against the spirit of the BMF belt.
Hooker agrees that Oliveira, and his newly won title, lost some luster that night.
“It was cool for a bit and then he kind of made it not cool,†Hooker told Submission Radio. “I think he killed it.â€
The BMF championship was innovated by former UFC star Nate Diaz, who cut a fiery promo after a win at UFC 241 that led to he and Jorge Masvidal fighting to become the inaugural titleholder at UFC 244, where Masvidal defeated Diaz. Justin Gaethje later defeated Dustin Poirier for a vacant title, with Holloway subsequently claiming the belt with an all-time great performance at UFC 300.
Hooker believes the promotion has strayed far from the original purpose of the title.
“You know where they f*cked it up?†Hooker said. “They should have kept it like Nate Diaz, Masvidal kind of shit. They completely f*cked it when they were like – They had badass motherf*ckers fighting for it like that, but then it should be the guys that want to throw down and just talk shit as well. That was kind of like me, Bobby Green, could lose 20 times and he's still a BMF contender. Then they had Max do it, and he's like the nicest guy in the f*cking world.
“Talk shit. Say you're going to knock the other guy's head off, that was like our belt. That was the guys whose careers are a f*cking mess. ‘Gamebred' was hot and cold for a minute, Nate Diaz, all our records are a f*cking mess. It's going to be a lot harder for us to get our hands on the nice, shiny, clean one. That's what I'm saying, they let too many nice guys have a crack.â€
That said, Hooker looks forward to the Oliveira vs. Lopes matchup, even if the BMF belt's involvement feels perfunctory. Hooker fights Brian Ortega at UFC Qatar on Nov. 21, and if both he and Lopes are victorious, he sees a scenario where he challenges Lopes for the title next.
“For some reason, they're adamant on this BMF belt sticking around and just having another belt to put up for grabs, but yeah, I like that fight,†Hooker said. “I feel like Diego Lopes is a strong contender for that. As he says, he doesn't feel like he's going to get another crack at Volk. He doesn't feel like it's just around the corner, so I like the fight, definitely.â€
“That's why I wanted this fight [vs. Ortega],†Hooker continued. “I feel like I can beat Brian Ortega, but now, Diego Lopes beating Charles Oliveira, I feel like that's a much bigger ask. But yeah, I like that fight, for sure.â€
MMA
Report: Jacqueline Cavalcanti vs. Michelle Montague postponed to UFC 335 on Dec. 12
Published
1 day agoon
November 2, 2026
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