UFC 188: Velasquez vs Werdum - Review and Results
UFC in Mexico once again didn’t live up to the expectations of delivering great fights as the high altitude once again played its part as even guys known for great cardio got succumbed to it including now former Heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez in the main event and former WEC & strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez.
Fabricio Werdum won the performance of the night bonus for submitting Cain in the main event along with Patrick Williams who also got this bonus for a record 23-second submission. The Fight of the Night bonus was awarded to Rodriguez vs Rosa, which was easily the most entertaining fight of the evening outside of the main event.
Preliminary Card (UFC Fight Pass / FOX Sports 1)
- Gabriel Benitez def. Clay Collard by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
- Cathal Pendred def. Augusto Montano by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
- Johnny Case def. Francisco Trevino by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
- Patrick Williams def. Alejandro Perez by technical submission (guillotine choke) at 0:23 of Round One
- Efrain Escudero def. Drew Dober by submission (guillotine choke) at 0:54 of Round One
- Henry Cejudo def. Chico Camus by unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27 x2)
Main Card (Sony Six / PPV)
Tecia Torres def. Angela Hill by unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)
In the main card opener, Tecia Torres def. Angela Hill in a snoozer. Torres used her experience and wrestling to control the relatively inexperienced fighter in Angela hill for the first two rounds. Hill came back in the third as tired Torres couldn’t replicate the strategy of previous rounds. Torres won the fight two rounds to one.
Yair Rodriguez def. Charles Rosa by split decision (28-29, 29-28 x2)
Yair Rodriguez and Charles Rosa put up the best fight of the night by a considerable margin. The first round showed some amazing kicking game of Rodriquez. Rosa immediately took the fight on the ground but found himself trapped in a tight triangle choke but masterfully defended it and took Rodriquez back for a while, but Rodriguez stood up. Rosa kept on the pressure but Rodriguez found success on the feet. Round was close as both had decent success and moment in it.
Round two was all about Rodriguez who showed tremendous Takedown defense and stuffed all Rosa’s takedowns and punished him on the feet. Rosa looked gassed as well while Rodrigues clearly had momentum in his favor. In round three a depleting Rosa showed tremendous heart and controlled the round by getting good takedowns. He constantly kept the pressure and tries to get the win but in the end it was a bit late for him.
In this fight, a star emerged as Rodriguez really impressed with his athleticism, his striking, grappling, and takedown defense at time.