Add Ronda Rousey to the plethora of past and present MMA fighters showing support for Cain Velasquez.
Velasquez, 39, is facing an attempted murder charge, as well as multiple counts of assault with a gun and deadly weapon, in connection with a shooting that took place Monday in San Jose, Calif. Police say Velasquez chased after Harry Goularte and shot several times at a truck carrying him, his stepfather and mother. The stepfather, who was the driver, sustained a gunshot wound during the incident.
Velasquez’s alleged actions occurred after Goularte, 43, was charged with molesting an underage “close relative” of the former UFC champion at an at-home daycare run by his mother, according to the police report.
On Thursday, Rousey made it clear where she stood on the situation.
“I would have done the same thing if not worse,” she tweeted, accompanied by the hashtag #freeCainVelasquez.
Rousey, a UFC Hall of Famer and former women’s bantamweight champion, became a first-time parent last September when she and husband Travis Browne welcomed their baby girl, La’akea. Rousey joins a growing list of fighters – including Khabib Nurmagomedov, Israel Adesanya, Henry Cejudo, and many more – to publicly support Velasquez.
Velasquez remains in custody at the Santa Clara County main jail after his Wednesday arraignment was postponed until Monday at the request of his attorney. He will remain jailed until at least then, when a judge could decide to set bail.
If convicted of attempted murder, Velasquez faces a minimum of 20 years and up to life in prison. He faces additional time if found guilty of other counts.
