The former UFC heavyweight champion, Cain Velasquez, has been sentenced to five years in prison after entering a No Contest plea in his attempted murder case. Having already served time, he is expected to spend less than two more years incarcerated as his lengthy legal ordeal concludes. This article discusses Velasquez`s sentence and the implications of Sean Brady`s impressive victory over Leon Edwards at UFC London.
“Hi Jed, my name is Mike Heck. My question is, as someone who dabbles in the law field, what was your reaction to the Cain Velasquez sentencing?”
As someone with a legal background, it`s clear that initiating a car chase and firing shots at another vehicle will likely result in jail time. While no longer practicing law, my legal knowledge indicates that Velasquez`s actions had serious consequences under the law.
In 2022, Velasquez engaged in an 11-mile high-speed pursuit of a car containing Harry Goularte, who was accused of molesting Velasquez’s son. Velasquez fired multiple shots at the vehicle, injuring Goularte’s stepfather, Paul Bender. He was arrested shortly after.
Despite the understandable public support for Velasquez due to the horrific crime against his son, his actions were legally wrong. While the situation is tragic, vigilantism is not permissible. Society cannot function if individuals take the law into their own hands, especially against those not yet convicted of a crime.
Even supporters of Velasquez should acknowledge that his actions endangered more than just Goularte, as evidenced by the injury to an innocent bystander. It`s fortunate that no one was more seriously hurt during the chase and gunfire.
Initially, a 10-year sentence seemed possible, potentially reduced for good behavior. Therefore, a five-year sentence can be seen as a relatively favorable outcome for Velasquez, especially considering prosecutors sought 30 years. Had the situation been worse, he could have faced a life sentence. With approximately one year left to serve, this sentence appears to be a reasonable compromise.
Is Sean Brady poised to take the belt from Belal Muhammad?
Not so fast.
Sean Brady`s performance on Saturday was indeed exceptional. Many expected a strong showing from Edwards, but Brady dominated from the start, not just defeating Edwards but breaking his spirit.
By the third round, Edwards appeared defeated, resorting to a takedown attempt despite being outmatched on the ground, simply going through the motions until Brady secured a finish. Brady deserves full credit for this dominant performance.
However, Brady defeating Belal Muhammad is not a likely outcome. Their previous fight was not competitive, with Muhammad clearly outperforming Brady. While Brady has improved, their past encounter and Muhammad`s consistent performance since then suggest Muhammad would likely win a rematch. Muhammad even demonstrated the blueprint for defeating Edwards, which Brady then utilized.
Brady`s takedown ability makes him a threat in the welterweight division, but his striking remains a weakness, and some fighters at 170 are difficult to take down. Belal Muhammad presents a challenging stylistic matchup for Brady, making Muhammad the favorite in a potential rematch.
What about a potential fight between Shavkat Rakhmonov and Sean Brady, or Leon Edwards moving up to middleweight to face Israel Adesanya?
Neither of those matchups are ideal at this time.
Focusing on Brady vs. Shavkat, despite some suggesting it, it doesn`t make strategic sense. Rakhmonov was slated for a title fight which was delayed due to the champion`s injury. He then agreed to a short-notice fight to remain on UFC 310 and won. He deserves to wait for his title shot.
Similarly, Brady, fresh off a victory over a former champion and top-ranked contender, has earned a high-profile fight. There`s no need to pit top contenders against each other unnecessarily. Rakhmonov should face the winner of Muhammad vs. Jack Della Maddalena, and Brady could serve as a backup fighter. This is the logical progression.
(That said, in a hypothetical fight, Rakhmonov would likely be favored due to Brady`s reliance on top control and potential vulnerability if he can`t secure takedowns).
As for Leon Edwards at middleweight against Adesanya, it`s not a compelling idea. Edwards lacks the size for sustained success at middleweight, though he could win some fights. Adesanya vs. Edwards would likely be a low-action, uneventful fight, drawing negative fan reaction.
Considering Leon`s reign at the top might be ending, how does his legacy compare to Michael Bisping`s? And is a fight between Leon Edwards and Jorge Masvidal now the right move?
Comparing Edwards and Bisping, Edwards is the greater fighter, but Bisping is more historically significant.
Bisping is a pioneer of British MMA. Even without a UFC title, his impact would be immense. His eventual title win was a remarkable achievement. He remains the most iconic British MMA fighter.
However, Edwards has achieved more. Bisping often lost against top opponents and struggled to secure a title shot despite the UFC`s desire for him to contend. Edwards, despite being sometimes labeled as boring, consistently won major fights.
Edwards defeated an all-time great for the welterweight title and defended it twice. Bisping`s title win was valid, but his defense was against an aging Dan Henderson and then a welterweight, Georges St-Pierre, who specifically chose Bisping for his return. Edwards is clearly the more accomplished fighter.
Regarding Jorge Masvidal, now is the time for Edwards vs. Masvidal. Edwards appeared lackluster against Brady, possibly indicating a lack of focus. Masvidal is the kind of opponent who would motivate him, and with Edwards outside the immediate title picture, this fight would be entertaining.
Does Carlos Ulberg`s narrow win over Jan Blachowicz suggest he won`t become champion? His performance seemed underwhelming, especially against Blachowicz at this stage of his career. However, the light heavyweight division is unpredictable.
Carlos Ulberg secured a close decision victory over former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz. The fight was not particularly exciting, but it`s not solely Ulberg`s fault.
Jan Blachowicz is a difficult opponent. Aside from Glover Teixeira, who submitted him, few have looked dominant against Blachowicz recently. Top light heavyweights like Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira had close fights with him due to his solid defense and well-rounded skills. Opponents rarely look impressive against Blachowicz.
Ulberg`s performance was still underwhelming. Despite Blachowicz being 42 and returning from injury, the fight was close, with some scoring it for Blachowicz. Ulberg`s reluctance to engage offensively may hinder his title aspirations. Fighters who avoid risks rarely win championships, though they might defend titles already won. Taking a title requires more aggression.
Also, the light heavyweight division is currently weak, making it unpredictable. Anyone could potentially win the belt.
Marcus Blakely 
Wesley Dunham