F. Werdum is the new lineal heavyweight champion. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC
A specialist in shocking the world of MMA. So it can be defined Fabricio Werdum. The man who made history four years ago by breaking the legend's undefeated streak Fedor Emelianenko, this time marked his name on the list of linear champions of the biggest event on the planet, concluded Cain Velazquez and unified the UFC heavyweight titles.
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Despite being fluent in Spanish, the official Ultimate commentator for the Latino audience and having provoked Velasquez a lot about the North American's closeness to his Mexican roots, Werdum seems not to have done enough to convince the local public, who support Cain and he booed the Brazilian a lot throughout the fight.
Werdum's victory, however, silenced the more than 20 thousand fans present at the Arena Ciudad de Mexico, where the shouts of celebration from the Brazilian fighter's team echoed.
With Werdum's triumph, Brazil now has three champions in Ultimate – in addition to “Vai Cavalo”, they also hold the belt Rafael dos Anjos e José Aldo.
The fight
Before the first minute of fighting, Fabricio Werdum had already suffered knockdownbut Cain Velazquez I didn't want to accept the game on the ground. On the contrary, the American of Mexican descent quickly sought the cage to impose his game of pressure and intensity. At the end of the partial, the Brazilian managed to land a counter blow, which opened a cut on Velasquez's face.
In the second round, Werdum seemed a little more tired and had his movement undermined by Velasquez's kicks. Despite this, the Brazilian managed some good strikes from the top and also threatened the linear champion. Halfway through the round, Cain felt a knee from the Brazilian, who had a good time and even gave the impression that he would give in to the gaucho's blows. In the final minute, the moment belonged entirely to Fabrício, who connected good knees and direct blows to guarantee the partial.
Instructed by his coaches, Velasquez attempted the takedown at the beginning of the third round, but Werdum managed the reversal and escaped the attack. Using and abusing the clinch muay thai, the Brazilian hit Cain and left him completely bewildered. Quite tired, the North American desperately tried for a takedown and left his neck so that the Brazilian, multi-time jiu-jitsu champion, could get a fair guillotine choke.
With the position in place, it was possible to see Werdum smiling before referee Herb Dean intervened, as he knew the heavyweight title was in his hands.
After the duel, still in the Octagon, Werdum celebrated, thanked and preached respect to his opponent. “I want to thank everyone. Let's all respect the Cain Velazquez and I wanted to thank my country, Brazil, my team and my family. It was a very tough fight and we will definitely have a rematch”, he declared to commentator Joe Rogan.
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Alvarez overcomes 'closed' eye and beats Melendez
E. Alvarez's left eye has been completely closed since the first round. Photo: Reproduction
Eddie Alvarez x Gilbert Melendez was one of the most anticipated fights at UFC 188, as it brought together two former Bellator and Strikeforce champions – and, therefore, the best lightweights outside the Octagon for a few years. However, despite expectations, the duel did not have as much action as expected, but it was still quite busy and Alvarez came out on top, in a close decision.
After a very careful start, Melendez ended up hitting Alvarez with a very hard elbow while his rival was trying for a uppercut. The blow ended up opening a cut in the region of Eddie's left eye, which made it difficult to see from then on. Until the end of the first half, the former Strikeforce champion knew how to capitalize well on the advantage gained and controlled his rival in striking, especially with his jabs accurate.
In the second round, Alvarez's difficulty in seeing increased and the athlete from blackzilians He relied on attempted falls to minimize damage to the eye region. After almost five minutes of trying, the former Bellator champion finally managed to take his rival to the ground in the final stretch of the round, which, together with an elbow in the final second, ended up giving him the advantage.
In the last and decisive round, Melendez showed signs of fatigue and the fight went on quite evenly in the final five minutes. Unable to free himself from Alvarez's game on the fence, Melendez ended up giving in to his rival's pressure. In the last seconds, Eddie connected with a rotating blow that opened a deep cut, which bled profusely, to also win in the third part.
At the end of 15 minutes without the intensity that was imagined, Eddie Alvarez was declared the winner in a split decision by the judges.
TUF 17 champion wins again after weight problems
Back at middleweight after suffering his first professional defeat and losing weight by almost five kilos, Kelvin Gastelum He made a point of impressing on his return to the Octagon and ran over former Strikeforce champion Nate Marquardt. After a real beating given to his rival, Gastelum saw Marquardt's corners throw in the towel between the second and third rounds.
After the triumph, the TUF 17 champion said that his plan was to leave a message for Ultimate's directors and try, perhaps, to justify his return to welterweight. “That's my plan, but I don't know yet. I have to sit down and talk to Joe Silva and Dana White and see what we’re going to do”, he assured.
MAIN CARD
Fabricio Werdum finished Cain Velazquez with a guillotine at 2m13s R3;
Eddie Alvarez beat Gilbert Melendez by split decision (29×28, 28×29 and 29×28);
Kevin Gastelum beat Nate Marquardt by TKO (withdrawal) between R2 and R3;
Yair Rodriguez won Charles Rosa by split decision of the judges (29×28, 28×29 and 29×28);
Tecia torres won Angela Hill in a unanimous decision by the judges (30×27, 30×27 and 29×28);
PRELIMINARY CARD
Henry Cejudo beat Chico Camus by unanimous decision of the judges (30×27, 30×27 and 30×27);
Efrain Escudero submitted Drew dober with a guillotine at 54 seconds of R1;
Patrick Williams submitted Alejandro Perez with a guillotine at 23 seconds of R1;
Johnny Case beat Francisco Trevino by unanimous decision of the judges (30×27, 30×27 and 30×27);
Cathal Pendred beat Augusto Montaño by unanimous decision of the judges (29×28, 29×28 and 29×28);
Gabriel benitez beat Clay Collard by unanimous decision of the judges (30×27, 30×27 and 30×27).
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