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Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez Arrested On Suspicion Of Attempted Murder

Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez Arrested On Suspicion Of Attempted Murder

He has been booked into Santa Clara County jail without bail.

Max Sherry

Max Sherry

Cain Velasquez is currently sitting in a jail cell after being charged with attempted murder.

According to NBC Bay Area, the former UFC heavyweight champion was allegedly involved in a shooting in California which resulted in an adult male being hospitalised with non-life threatening injuries.

Velasquez, widely regarded as a true mixed martial arts pioneer, was booked into Santa Clara County without bail.

It's understood local police in San Jose are still undertaking investigations with Velasquez's exact role and motives still unknown.

During his collegiate career, Velasquez was a top wrestling prospect.

After graduating in 2006, it didn't take long for MMA promoters to snap him, making him professional debut for Strikeforce before jumping over to the UFC in 2008.

The 39-year-old went on to become a two-time heavyweight champion, first winning the belt from Brock Lesnar at UFC 121 in 2011 before recapturing it from Junior dos Santos just two years later.

He was tapped out by Fabricio Werdum in his title defence less than 24 months later and retired fro the sport in 2019 following his devastating knockout defeat at the fist of current champion Francis Ngannou.

Alamy

But the California native's stint on combat sports scene was far from over.

Velasquez then signed a lucrative deal with the WWE, joining fellow MMA star Ronda Rousey in making the cross-code switch.

But it was Velasquez's old foe Lesnar who exacted his revenge over Velasquez by defeating him in their heavyweight championship grudge match.

Featured Image Credit: Twitter/@SJPD_PIO/Alamy

Topics: Cain Velasquez, UFC, WWE, Australia, MMA