"UFC 188: Velasquez Vs. Werdum" Results: New UFC Heavyweight Champion, Major Lightweight Fight, More
Welcome to Wrestling Inc's coverage of UFC 188: Velasquez Vs. Werdum. Tonight's main event will see a heavyweight title unification fight, and the return of Cain Velasquez after a 18 month layoff. You can see the full card at this link, our own preview at this link, and UFC's preview in the video above.
Prelims
Gabriel Benitez def. Clay Collard via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Cathal Pendred def. Augusto Montano via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Johnny Case def. Francisco Trevino via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Patrick Williams def. Alejandro Perez via technical submission (guillotine choke), Round 1, 0:23
Efrain Escudero def. Drew Dober via submission (guillotine choke), Round 1, 0:54
Henry Cejudo (#7) def. Chico Camus (#13) via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27)
Main Card
Note: Rey Mysterio is in attendance at UFC 188.
Tecia Torres (#5) vs. Angela Hill (#15)
Round 1: The two circle for a minute and a half until Torres is able to push Hill against the cage, landing a few knees to Hill's body. Torres lands a right as the fighters break. Torres lands a takedown in the middle of the cage and ends up in Hill's half guard. Torres scores with some light strikes on top, but really does no damage.
Wrestling Inc scores the round 10-9 for Tecia Torres
Round 2: Torres scores another takedown a minute into the round and gains side control, but Hill quickly regains the half. Torres ends up getting side, mount, back, but Hill keeps getting half guard back. John McCarthy stands them back up, and Hill lands a knee to the body.
Wrestling Inc scores the round 10-9 for Tecia Torres
Round 3: Hill opens up round 3 with a kick, but she looked toasted in between rounds. The two get in an exchange, with both women landing shots, but Torres gets the better of it. Hill stuffs a takedown but gets pushed back to the cage. This is how the fight ends.
Wrestling Inc scores the round 10-9 for Tecia Torres, giving her a 30-27 win.
Official Result: Tecia Torres (#5) defeats Angela Hill (#15) via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)
That fight was an easy one for Torres, but didn't do her any favors towards earning a potential championship fight.
Charles Rosa vs. Yair Rodriguez
Round 1: Rodriguez throws a lot of wild techniques and ends up slipping, but locks on a triangle. The crowd loves him. Rosa gets out after several minutes and tries to take the back, but they end up against the cage. Rosa lands a nice belly-to-belly slam and pounds away at Rodriguez. Rodriguez kicks Rosa as he gets up, and scores a nice combo to end the round
Wrestling Inc scores the round a draw at 10-10
Round 2: The two trade shots, with Rodriguez landing more. Rosa shoots in for a lazy takedown, but it gets stuffed and he's kicked in the knee. Rosa tries several more times, but can't secure a takedown, and instead gets switched taken down by Rodriguez. Yair instead decides to stand up, and gets pressed against the cage. The ref checks a cut on Rosa, but allows the fight to continue. Rosa comes in with wild punches and tries another takedown, but can't get it. He won't give up, and gets reversed as soon as he lands it. Clearly a round for Rodriguez.
Wrestling Inc scores the round 10-9 for Yair Rodriguez
Round 3: Rosa opens with leg kicks that set up a takedown. Rosa is in Rodriguez's guard and actually gets attacked more than he's dishing out until he scores with an elbow. Rodriguez locks on another triangle, but Rosa gets out and has Rodriguez turtled up. He loses the position with two minutes left in the round, and Rodriguez scores a leg kick. Rosa gets another takedown and moves to side control. He ends up in guard shortly after, and works ground and pound to close it out.
Wrestling Inc scores the round 10-9 for Charles Rosa, making it a 29-29 Draw
Official Result: Yair Rodriguez defeated Charles Rosa via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Yair Rodriguez already got a great reaction in Mexico, but he's going to be a superstar there now. Also, he threw up all over the ring.
Kelvin Gastelum (#10 WW) vs. Nate Marquardt
Round 1: Both fighters look much different physically. Gastelum backs Marquardt up to the cage but doesn't land anything solid. Kelvin then lands about four punches in a row, and it really looks like a matter of time before he puts Marquardt to sleep. Huge right straight by Gastelum, but Nate fires back and lands two punches. Marquardt takes Gastelum down, but Kelvin gets up and takes Marquardt down and moves to half guard. Gastelum takes Nate Marquardt's back, then turtles him up before getting back on the feet. A nice combo ends the round.
Wrestling Inc scores the round 10-9 for Kelvin Gastelum
Round 2: Gastelum is landing great straight combos to open up the round. Gastelum starts killing Marquardt with knees that drop him, and then follows up with ground and pound as Marquardt tries to fight back. He makes it to his feet, and it's a miracle that he survived that. Marquardt is taken down and Gastelum isn't throwing any punches of note after almost finishing. Rogan speculates his hand may be hurt as Gastelum lands elbows. Nate tries a leglock, but can't do anything as the round ends.
Wrestling Inc scores the round 10-8 for Kelvin Gastelum
Nate Marquardt says he has nothing left on the stool. His coach Trevor Wittman calls the fight off.
Official result: Kelvin Gastelum (#10 WW) defeated Nate Marquardt via TKO (retirement), Round 2, 5:00
This is probably the last we'll see of Marquardt in the UFC. Hats off to his coaches for not giving him a choice, he was done.
Gilbert Melendez (#4) vs. Eddie Alvarez (#9)
Round 1: The two feel each other out for 90 seconds until Melendez tags Alvarez with an elbow. Eddie throws a leg kick without setting it up and eats a counter right. Melendez scores with another great right hand, and Alvarez just won't pull the trigger.
Wrestling Inc scores the round 10-9 for Gilbert Melendez
Round 2: Alvarez blew his nose after it was broken, causing his eye to swell up. Nevertheless, he lands a nice right hand. Alvarez backs Melendez up to the cage but eats a knee. Melendez then gets hit in the nether regions and the two are separated. Melendez then zeroes in on the eye, jabbing away. Alvarez scores a leg kick, but Melendez doesn't care about checking it. Alvarez manages a takedown, but Melendez works his way back up and hits a spinning elbow to close the round.
Wrestling Inc scores the round 10-9 for Eddie Alvarez, tying it up.
Round 3: Alvarez takes Melendez down, showing great heart after his eye has swollen completely shut. Melendez stuffs another attempt, and goes back to attacking with straight punches before being caught with a right hand by Alvarez. Eddie scores a leg kick and a takedown, but Melendez is right back up to his feet and against the cage with two minutes left. Another takedown with 90 seconds left meets the same result, and the two are back in the center of the cage trading. Melendez with jabs and Alvarez with a leg kick before Alvarez scores a spinning back elbow and a right. The two slug it out to end it.
Wrestling Inc scores the round 10-9 for Eddie Alvarez, giving him the fight 29-28
Official Result: Eddie Alvarez (#9) defeats Gilbert Melendez (#4) via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Eddie Alvarez earned that one. He couldn't see and still beat Gil Melendez, who looked like he got tired. The altitude is playing a big role.
UFC Heavyweight Championship Unification
Cain Velasquez (c) vs. Fabricio Werdum (Interim Champion) (#1)
Round 1: The two slug it out early, with Werdum making Cain pay for a leg kick that wasn't set up. Cain gets inside and lands big punches, making it a dirty boxing match. Velasquez is cut, but takes down Werdum before letting him back up. Velasquez gets taken down briefly before making it back up. This is an absolute brawl, with both men landing great punches. Another takedown for Velasquez, but that's where Werdum wants to be. This is messy already. Fabricio lands two good punches, but eats two to end the round.
Wrestling Inc scores the round 10-9 for Cain Velasquez
Round 2: Werdum scores with a nice left hook to open the round, but is getting leg kicked repeatedly. The two are pretty even on the exchanges, but Velasquez pulls ahead and starts scoring at a 3:1 ratio. Werdum tags Velasquez twice, and Cain is hurt, but he looks like he goes on autopilot and fights back. Werdum is landing much more now, and he's punishing Cain. The two stand in the pocket trading until Cain gets rocked by an uppercut.
Wrestling Inc scores the round 10-9 for Fabricio Werdum
Round 3: Werdum lands several jabs before getting taken down. Werdum is more than happy to be there, but gets back up and peppers Cain some more. Velasquez comes back with a head kick but eats a lot of strikes up against the cage. Velasquez takes Werdum down, but Werdum catches him in a guillotine! Cain taps out! Werdum is the undisputed champ!
Official result: Fabricio Werdum (IC) (#1) defeats Cain Velasquez (c) via submission, Round 3, 2:13 to become Undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champion
That was an unbelievable performance by Werdum. Junior dos Santos, Andrei Arlovski, Alistair Overeem and Stipe Miocic are all now championship contenders.