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Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez has been granted permission by the courts to serve as a coach and cornerman for lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov at Bellator 300.
This development comes amidst Velasquez's ongoing legal battle, where he is set to go to trial on premeditated attempted murder charges in January. The news was confirmed by California State Athletic Commission executive director Andy Foster, who stated,
"He is scheduled to corner. We are in possession of a court order permitting him to do so."
Cain Velasquez, who had been arrested in February 2022 on multiple charges, including premeditated attempted murder, had been released on conditional bail in November of the same year. As a condition of his release, Velasquez is required to obtain court permission for any travel or public appearances.
Despite his legal troubles, Velasquez has previously made appearances at a professional wrestling event in Arizona and fulfilled other sponsorship duties that involved travel across the United States.
This opportunity to corner Usman Nurmagomedov at Bellator 300 marks Velasquez's return to the world of mixed martial arts, where he had once been celebrated as one of the greatest heavyweights in history, achieving multiple UFC championship reigns. He retired from active competition in 2019 but has continued to be an integral part of the fight community.
Velasquez's legal woes stem from an incident in which he allegedly engaged in a high-speed chase while firing multiple rounds from a handgun at a vehicle occupied by Harry Goularte. Goularte is facing charges related to the alleged sexual molestation of Velasquez's 4-year-old son at a daycare owned by Velasquez's mother. Although Goularte was unharmed, his stepfather, Paul Bender, sustained non-life-threatening injuries from a bullet wound.
Judge Daniel T. Nishigaya recently informed Velasquez through his attorneys that a trial date for his case would be set for mid-to-late January 2024. If convicted on the multitude of charges, Velasquez could potentially face life in prison.
In the midst of these legal challenges, Velasquez is now focused on helping his teammate and training partner, Usman Nurmagomedov, in his title defense against Brent Primus. The bout, set to headline Bellator 300, also serves as a pivotal matchup in the ongoing Bellator Lightweight Grand Prix.