Ex-MMA Champion Cain Velasquez Accused Of Attempted Murder In CA

MORGAN HILL, CA — Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez is a suspect in a shooting in Morgan Hill, police said.

San José police said a man was shot at least once Monday afternoon near Monterey Highway and Bailey Avenue. He was taken to a hospital and was expected to survive.

One suspect was taken into custody. The circumstances surrounding the shooting weren't immediately known.

On Tuesday morning, police said Velasquez was the suspect arrested Monday. He was booked into Santa Clara County main jail on a charge of attempted murder. No bail was allowed, online court records showed. He was scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.

Morgan Hill is a city in Santa Clara County, about 19 miles southeast of San Jose. Velasquez trained at American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose.

Velasquez, 39, was born in Salinas. He last fought in 2019 in a loss against now-reigning UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. He finished his UFC career with a record of 14-3, with 12 knockouts.

Velasquez won his first title fight in 2010, knocking out Brock Lesnar. After losing the heavyweight belt in 2011 to Junior Dos Santos, Velasquez reclaimed the heavyweight belt in a 2012 rematch with Dos Santos. Velasquez successfully defended his title in 2013 against Antonio Silva, then again that same year in a third bout against Dos Santos.

In 2015, he lost the heavyweight belt to Fabricio Werdum. He retired four years later and has since performed in WWE, stepping into the ring with Lesnar in a quasi-rematch.