Read Dana White's full letter supporting Cain Velasquez in wake of attempted murder charge

It took Dana White just four days to throw his support behind Cain Velasquez after the former UFC heavyweight champion was arrested and charged with attempted murder Feb. 28 in California.

In a letter dated March 4, the UFC president appealed to a Santa Clara County Superior Court judge asking that Velasquez’s character be considered – calling him “a model example of how a professional athlete should carry himself” – as the legal process plays out. White also pointed to the fact that Velasquez had no prior arrest record.

White’s letter was obtained by MMA Junkie as part of a 246-page document in which Velasquez’s attorney, Mark Geragos, filed a petition in the 6th District Court of Appeal requesting his client be released from jail. On three separate occasions, Judge Shelyna Brown has denied bail.

You can read White’s full letter here or below:

March 4, 2022

To the honorable judge of the Santa Clara Superior Court,

I write this reference in full knowledge of Cain Velasquez’s current charges of attempted murder and assault. I was stunned to learn of these charges against him, as they are completely out of character for the man I was proud to say was a two-time UFC Heavyweight Champion.

I have known Mr. Velasquez for more than 15 years, and during his time as an active athlete with UFC, he represented our company with dignity and always treated others with respect. He was a model example of how a professional athlete should carry himself, projecting a positive image to UFC’s fanbase. Mr. Velasquez was extremely professional and went above and beyond to make a connection with our fans and promote the sport of mixed martial arts—- not only as an entertainment product, but also as a character—building discipline.

As a Mexican American, Mr. Velasquez was proud of his heritage and never passed up an opportunity to visit Mexico on behalf of our company and demonstrate his gratitude
to the Mexican fans for their support.

People who know him best describe him as a humble, soft-spoken man who was very much dedicated t0 his family, including his wife and his two children.

If given the opportunity, I’m sure Mr. Velasquez would like nothing more than to return to his family and continue to make a positive impact on his community.

I sincerely ask that you take this into consideration as you adjudicate next steps in this process concerning Mr. Velasquez.

lf you wish for me to confirm any of the above, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Dana White
UFC President

In addition to White, other MMA luminaries wrote letters to the judge in March, according to ESPN, including Bellator president Scott Coker; current UFC champion Kamaru Usman, former UFC champions Daniel Cormier, Henry Cejudo, Brandon Moreno, and Fabricio Werdum; Bellator heavyweight champion Ryan Bader; and more.

On Feb. 28, Velasquez allegedly chased down a truck carrying Harry Goularte, a man accused of molesting Velasquez’s 4-year-old son, his mother and his stepfather, and shot at it, striking Paul Bender in the arm.

Velasquez, 40, faces 20 years and up to life in prison if convicted of attempted murder. He faces additional time if convicted of other gun-related charges.