Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Valequez could be closer to freedom than previously expected after prison records showed an update to his parole eligibility date.
Valequez is currently serving a five-year prison sentence after entering a no-contest plea in October 2024 on charges that included attempted murder. The case stemmed from a February 2022 incident in which Valequez pursued a vehicle during a high-speed chase and fired multiple rounds from a handgun. The vehicle carried Harry Goularte, a man accused of sexually molesting Valequez’s son at a daycare owned by Goularte’s mother.
Although several shots struck the vehicle, Goularte was not injured. His stepfather, Paul Bender, was hit and sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
According to the California Incarcerated Records database, Cain Valequez is now eligible for parole as of February 2026, a shift from the previously listed March 2026 date. Prisoners can reduce their parole timeline through participation in approved rehabilitative programs.
Valequez is serving his sentence at the Correctional Training Facility, commonly known as Soledad State Prison, in Soledad, California.
It’s important to note that parole eligibility does not guarantee release. As corrections officials often explain,
“Eligibility only establishes the earliest possible release date, not an automatic discharge.” Inmates can also lose time credits or have additional time added for disciplinary violations while incarcerated.
The 43-year-old received credit for time already served, including several months in jail prior to posting bail and additional time spent under house arrest. That credit significantly reduced the remaining length of his sentence.
Valequez, one of the most dominant heavyweights in UFC history, held the title twice and recorded landmark victories over Brock Lesnar and Junior dos Santos. After retiring from MMA in 2019, he briefly transitioned into professional wrestling, competing for AAA and later making a short appearance in WWE.
For now, Cain Valequez remains behind bars, but February 2026 now represents the earliest point at which the former champion could begin the next chapter of his life outside prison walls.
