UFC

Former UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez is suing Harry Goularte for allegedly molesting his four-year-old son.

According to TMZ Sports, the plaintiff in the lawsuit is identified as the guardian of "C.V., Jr." and says that "on numerous occasions" from 2021 to 2022 Goularte "sexually abused, molested, touched and harassed C.V."

Velasquez was arrested in February for allegedly attempting to shoot Goularte outside of his home in San Martin, California. The 39-year-old faces multiple felony charges, including first-degree attempted murder. If found guilty, Velasquez could face a prison term of 20 years to life. His next plea hearing is set for August 19.

Goularte was an employee at Patty's Childcare in San Martin when the alleged molestation occurred. Goularte's mother and stepfather, who own and operate the daycare, were also named as defendants in the lawsuit for claims they "fostered, maintained, and allowed an environment for its attendees to fall victim to sexual abuse at the hands of Harry."

Goularte also reportedly lived at the home daycare. The lawsuit continued: "Despite the warnings, observations, and signs of inappropriate behavior and conduct, Harry, at all times, remained permitted to reside on the property of Patty's Childcare."

The 43-year-old Goularte faces one felony charge of lewd and lascivious acts with a minor. He pleaded not guilty during a virtual hearing earlier this month and remains out on bail ahead of his next scheduled trial date of Sept. 20. If convicted, he faces up to eight years in prison.

The proceedings in Velasquez's lawsuit against Goularte are set to begin Sept. 6.

Francis Ngannou's return to the Octagon could happen before the end of the calendar year.

The UFC heavyweight champion says he could be recovered from knee surgery in time to return in December.

"If everything goes well, I'll be ready by the end of the year because it's gonna be nine months. So, let's say late December or early next year," Ngannou told TMZ Sports.

Ngannou defeated Ciryl Gane at January's UFC 270 pay-per-view despite suffering a torn MCL and damaged ACL during training. He waited until March to undergo surgery to repair the issue.

UFC President Dana White said it's expected that Ngannou will reach a new contract with the promotion before returning. The heavyweight star has expressed frustration with his salary and said any new deal would involve a carve-out to allow him to box heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.

“If I sign another contract now, basically the same model of the contract, I’m screwed," Ngannou said on The MMA Hour in April. "That’s not happening ever. So we have to figure out a way to implement this into a contract.

“I think the UFC is a good promotion, and I want to keep fighting. Tyson Fury is not my last fight. I want to keep fighting. After Tyson Fury, there’s still a lot of fights out there. There’s the Jon Jones, there’s the Stipe trilogy. That’s a big fight I can do in the USA. Yes, I can do Tyson Fury on my own, but what next?”

Ngannou's knee surgery put both a potential prizefight with Fury and his UFC return on hold. It seems more likely than not that Ngannou will return to the UFC and defend his heavyweight championship in the promotion before trying out his hand in the boxing ring.

The promotion has not determined an interim champion with Ngannou out.