WERDUM STEALS THE SHOW IN MEXICO CITY
Werdum Making His Famous “Werdum Face”
Los Angeles, CA- Fabricio Werdum (20-5-1) became the new UFC heavyweight (265) champion by submitting Cain Velasquez (13-2) in the third round in the main event of UFC 188. It was perhaps the greatest performance of his legendary career. Werdum now holds wins over two heavyweights ranked number one in the world when he fought them. Fedor Emilianenko (34-4, 1 NC), the greatest heavyweight mixed martial artist of all time, had a record of 31-1, 1 NC at the time he was submitted by Werdum in 1:09 back in 2010. The 37-year-old Werdum was a 5-1 underdog going into the Cain bout, but proved the odds makers wrong.
WHO’S NEXT FOR THE CHAMP?
I can see the UFC doing an immediate rematch for this fight, but I would prefer to see Werdum take on Andrei Arlovski (24-10, 1 NC). The former UFC champ is on a 5-fight win streak, and would be a good challenge for the Brazilian. A rematch with Junior dos Santos (17-3) would be a great idea as well. Dos Santos knocked Werdum out in 1:21 back in 2008, but Werdum has improved dramatically sicne then, and would be favored against the former champion.
MELENDEZ-ALVAREZ DISAPPOINTS
What looked like a war on paper ended up being a tactical decision win for lightweight (155) Eddie Alvarez (26-4) won a 3-round decision over Gilbert Melendez (22-5) in a fight that could have gone either way. Alvarez used his grappling to stifle the striking of Melendez, who busted up the former Bellator champ in the opening round. It was a fight that was met with boos by the Mexican crowd, who were expecting to see a brawl.
ALVAREZ TO GET TITLE SHOT IN NEAR FUTURE
If he gets a few more wins, Eddie Alvarez will be challenging for the UFC title in the near future. He has already proven himself to be one of the best in the world, and just defeated one of the UFC’s best lightweights.
Zack “Attack” Young
UFC 188 NOTES: WERDUM DESTROYS CAIN VELASQUEZ