Joe Rogan reacts to Cain Velasquez’s 5-year prison sentence: ‘If there’s ever a plea for temporary insanity, that’s the plea’

Joe Rogan doesn’t understand why former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez has to spend even a single day behind bars.

In March, Velasquez was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading no-contest to a variety of charges including attempted murder following his initial arrest back in 2022 stemming from an 11-mile high speed chase. Velasquez was pursuing a car containing Harry Goularte, a man accused of molesting the fighter’s son at a daycare owned by his mother. Velasquez fired several rounds from a .40-caliber handgun at the vehicle containing Goularte, with a bullet striking Goularte’s stepfather Paul Bender being struck in the arm.

On his podcast, Rogan spoke with former UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria about the situation.

“He did what every father would’ve done,” Rogan said. “If you’re not a father, you do not understand the murderous rage you would have if some man molested your baby. You don’t understand. You would see red in a way that no one would describe to you unless you’re a parent, that f*cking anger.

“I mean, if there’s ever a plea for temporary insanity, that’s the plea. If there’s ever a person that could justifiably say, ‘I was temporarily insane,’ it’s a father chasing after someone, especially a man that molests your boy. ...

“Everybody understands it,” Rogan continued. “He should’ve never gone to jail. He’s not a threat to society, he’s not a danger, he shouldn’t be in prison, and he already did three years. ... It’s horrific. I just don’t understand it.

“I mean, the judge’s hands were tied, he had to make a sentence and I think this is the minimum amount. They tried to give him 30 years for attempted murder because he was just shooting at this guy. Obviously, when you’re driving and your shooting, you could miss him and kill a bystander. It’s very dangerous. But also, the guy was in a murderous rage for a good reason, and if he killed that guy, the world would be better off. That’s my feeling.”

Velasquez got credit for 1,283 days of the five-year sentence before going back to prison after sentencing.

Rogan was recently in Miami calling the action for UFC 314, an event attended by President Donald Trump. The longtime UFC color commentator, podcaster, and comedian hopes that Trump could help Velasquez, perhaps with some assistance from UFC CEO Dana White.

“I hope Trump pardons him,” Rogan said. “I hope Dana makes something happen with that.”