Former UFC champion Velasquez jailed for attempted murder
Defence attorney Renee Hessling called the ruling "bittersweet" as she had hoped to avoid a prison sentence for Velasquez.Velasquez has been on house arrest since November and received 1,283 days of time served, reducing his sentence."Throughout it all, Cain has shown courage and strength of character," Hessling said in a statement. "He has taken responsibility for his actions and has been held accountable. The sentence handed down today reflects the complexities of the situation and acknowledges the man behind the headlines."In a recent interview on the Kyle Kingsbury Podcast, Velasquez accepted responsibility for his actions."We cannot put the law in our own hands, I know what I did, and I know what I did was very dangerous to other people," he said. "Not just people involved, but innocent people. I understand what I did and I'm willing to do everything I have to [do] to pay that back."Velasquez injured Paul Bender in the shooting during an 11-mile car chase, where he fired multiple times from a handgun.Velasquez fought 15 times in the UFC, twice winning the heavyweight title with wins over Brock Lesnar and Junior dos Santos.The California native retired after a knockout defeat by Francis Ngannou in 2019, with a record of 14 wins and three losses.
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The National
2 hours ago
- The National
Israeli official 'released from US' despite child sex offence charge
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Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Francis Ngannou opens up on fatal crash which killed teenage girl
Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou was involved in a motorcycle accident over the Easter weekend and a 17-year-old woman died from her injuries Francis Ngannou has revealed he has been suffering sleepless nights after a motorbike crash that killed a 17-year-old girl. The former UFC heavyweight champion was riding through Yaounde, Cameroon, over the Easter weekend this year when he struck a pedestrian, identified as Ntsama Brigitte Manuella. Ngannou immediately rushed her to Yaounde General Hospital and covered her medical expenses, but she tragically died several days later. The devastating accident occurred just a year after the loss of his 15-month-old son Kobe - who died from a brain malformation. It's been an incredibly difficult period for the 'Predator' - who last competed in October 2024, beating Renan Ferreira to claim the inaugural PFL Super Fights Heavyweight Championship, reports All Out Fighting. Months following Manuella's death, Ngannou spoke publicly about the incident for the first time, with the 38 year old explaining he was riding his motorbike at around 7pm when the crash happened. Speaking on the Ariel Helwani show, he said: "I was going by my mom's place and I get to this, it was like on the boulevard, and I saw this girl trying to cross the street. "But I noticed that she didn't look, because I saw her and it was like a three-way lane side of road, but I noticed that she didn't see. I wanted to go behind her because she was walking fast. Problem is that last minute she turned around and she saw me and she froze there. I had a few seconds, and I hit her with the left side of my motorcycle because I was almost passed, and I was like 300 yards away from a police station. I didn't even fall off the motorcycle, but she fell, so I'm like, 'Should I go report this?' But she's laying on the floor. I parked my motorcycle, go there, carry her, put her in the taxi, and then follow her to the hospital. We get in the hospital. I took her outside. She has a tibia fracture, but I took her out of the car, and she was aware now and in pain, which was a good sign. "I took her to the emergency room. They reassured me everything is good, but I still stayed there for like two hours until people came. ... I left, was reassured that everything was good. I mean, not 'good' because she's hurt, but I'm like, 'Oh, it wasn't the worst. It could have been worse than this.' And every day they were telling me, I was having the follow-up like, 'Oh, she's good.' Because the same night, her family came there, and she was good for the next two days, and they were prepping her surgery. She went for the surgery and never woke up. And just like that [she died]. I'm like, 'How come? What's happened?'" Despite the heartbreak of losing his son, the experience helped the Cameroonian fighter in how he dealt with his motorbike crash after he remembered moments when his boy was receiving treatment. Ngannou urged the medical team to examine whether the 17-year-old woman had internal bleeding and also requested an MRI scan. The 'Predator' was battling for some time following the collision, confessing: "So, now over sleepless nights, dealing with all this, thinking of what you could have done, or should have done, how could you, what would you have done to avoid that, it's a really bad feeling." Just days following the incident, Ngannou said that he has supported the woman's family. He paid for medical expenses, visited them privately and promised ongoing assistance. In the same interview with Helwani, the PFL star disclosed what the family told him. "They even say, okay, we know that he was in the accident, but we saw how you fight for our daughter," Ngannou recalled. He explained that the family acknowledged his choice not to flee the scene but instead to lift her into a taxi, accompany her to the hospital, and stay by her side for hours. He added: "I met them, we talked and then I also explained to them, what really happened. I say, 'Okay, I don't know if you want to hear because I know you are in the grief at this moment, but if you want to hear what's happened, I can talk about it. But I'm not here to give an explanation. I just want you to know the story, you know, because like one thing that you have to understand is that when somebody is laying down with no life, never be right." When is Francis Ngannou's next fight? It's been nearly a year since Ngannou last stepped into the ring. The PFL recently put on two landmark events in Africa, with Ngannou playing a key role in bringing MMA to his cherished continent. Yet many were left baffled as to why he didn't compete on either card. Explaining his absence, he revealed: "For example, like if you want to know what exactly is the reason why I wasn't there. I wasn't very okay with the first PFL Africa event seeming to be like an undercard. "Quoting him, we work a lot for that, PFL Africa, but I hoped PFL Africa's debut would have at least have its glory, its moment. But that wasn't my decision and I wasn't down for it. I express my feeling to them." Regarding his potential comeback, the 38 year old has his sights set on a bout with Deontay Wilder - possibly sometime later this year - though he's disclosed that talks with the boxing legend's camp are yet to begin.
Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Trump team releasing ‘largely uncensored' Epstein files to Congress in DAYS as fight over ‘missing client list' drags on
TRUMP'S team has agreed to hand over the largely uncensored Epstein files to congress as it tries to bury theories about a missing client list. Busting open the Epstein files was one of Trump's election promises, but since coming to power he has refused and tried to divert attention from the issue. 7 Ghislaine was found guilty of sex trafficking young girls for Epstein to abuse Credit: PA The President has come under intense pressure - including from voices within his own camp - who argue that if there is nothing to hide then the information should be set free. Some are convinced the files contain a "client list" which could incriminate public figures - and link this with conspiracy theories surrounding Epstein's suicide. Now, the campaigners have secured a major win with the administration agreeing to turning over most of the material held on the disgraced paedophile financier by the end of the week. The government's hand has been forced by Congress's House Oversight Committee, which this month issued a subpoena for "all documents and communications relating or referring to" Epstein and his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell. This was a rare sign of pushback against the President by Congress. Tuesday was set as the initial deadline, but chairman of the committee James Comer announced he would delay it until Friday in recognition of the Justice Department's cooperation. The Republican representative said: 'Officials with the department of justice have informed us that the department will begin to provide Epstein-related records to the oversight committee this week on Friday." 'There are many records in DoJ's custody, and it will take the department time to produce all the records and ensure the identification of victims and any child sexual abuse material are redacted.' Comer added: 'I appreciate the Trump administration's commitment to transparency and efforts to provide the American people with information about this matter.' The order, seen by US media, requests that the files are uncensored other than material which could identify Epstein's victims, shows child sex abuse or is otherwise redacted by law. EPSMystery orange figure is seen near Epstein's cell night before his death - as police video expert gives bombshell theory Epstein was in prison awaiting a major trial over sex-trafficking charges after decades of sick activity with minors, facilitated by Ghislaine. He was found hanged in his cell in August 2019, but the case has never shaken off speculation that others were involved in his death. Last month, an FBI probe concluded that Epstein committed suicide, and that the much-hyped "client list" does not exist - but even this did not quell the calls for the files to be released. In an effort to put the speculation to bed, the Justice Department released around 11 hours of CCTV footage from inside the facility where Epstein died, including the point his body was discovered. 7 James Comer, Chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee, said the Department of Justice is cooperating with the subpoena Credit: Getty Images - Getty But a mysterious "lost minute" was noticed in the video soon after release, when the clock ticked from 11:58:58 straight to midnight - skipping out 62 seconds. Attorney General Pam Bondi explained this was caused by a glitch in the prison's outdated system - and claimed the same minute is missing from footage every night. Then it was revealed that the video was actually made of two clips stitched together - debunking the claim it was the "full raw" file. Further analysis showed that one clip had been trimmed before release - and the data the first clip was actively cut at the 11:58:58 mark. The FBI's conclusion that the client list is fictional directly rails against what administration officials have previously said. 7 Prince Andrew was accused of having sex with Virginia Giuffre, then 17, facilitated by Epstein Credit: PA 7 The CCTV footage of Epstein's final hours was in fact missing almost three minutes Credit: US Department of Justice In an interview on Fox News in February, Pam Bondi herself said the client list was "sitting on my desk right now to review." She later attempted to clarify that she had meant the Epstein file in its entirety. Many within Trump's MAGA movement allege that the files about the paedophile's crimes have been withheld to protect big names. US House Speaker Mike Johnson said he supported the release of the files. Speaking on a podcast with Benny Johnson, the Republican said: "It's a very delicate subject, but we should put everything out there and let the people decide it. "I'm for transparency," he added. 7 7 Other conservative figures have since demanded to see all the documents related to Epstein's crimes. Lauren Boebert, another conservative Republican said a special counsel should be appointed to investigate the financier's crimes if more Epstein files were not released. And Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana said the voters expect more accountability. Even Trump's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, a Fox News host, has called for "more transparency" from the administration. All the while, Trump has rejected the suggestion the files contain anything of note. He said last month: "I don't understand why the Jeffrey Epstein case would be of interest to anybody. It's pretty boring stuff."
