Welcome to WrestlingObserver.com’s live coverage of UFC 188: Velasquez vs. Werdum from Arena Ciudad de Mexico in Mexico City, Mexico. The event, headlined by a UFC Heavyweight Championship Unification bout between UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez and Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Fabricio Werdum, airs on pay-per-view at 10 PM eastern time. Preliminary card action kicks off at 7 PM eastern time on UFC Fight Pass before moving over to FX at 8 PM eastern time. We are looking for your thoughts on tonight’s show, so send a thumbs up, a thumbs down or a thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst fight to dave@wrestlingobserver.com.<\/p>\n
PRELIMINARY CARD (UFC FIGHT PASS- 7 PM ET\/4 PM PT)<\/p>\n
FEATHERWEIGHTS: GABRIEL BENITEZ VS. CLAY COLLARD<\/p>\n
First round: Collard out in a Lucha mask.\u00a0 You knew at least one American would do that.\u00a0 He\u2019s also wearing a serape.\u00a0\u00a0 Benitez from Tijuana is from TUF Latin America season one.\u00a0 Crowd super hot.\u00a0 Benitez dropped him with a left right away and a body kick.\u00a0 Crowd so loud for Benitez.\u00a0 Body kick by Benitez.\u00a0 Great low kick by Benitez.\u00a0 Left by Benitez.\u00a0 Hard body kick by Benitez.\u00a0 Collard landed several punches.\u00a0 Collard with a left to the groin for a time out.\u00a0\u00a0 Collard working for a takedown.\u00a0 Benitez working for a guillotine, .\u00a0 He\u2019s squeezing but slipped off.\u00a0 Collard is on top.\u00a0 Collard is bleeding and has Benitez\u2019s back.\u00a0 Collard working for a choke.\u00a0 Hard elbows by Benitez.\u00a0 Collard up.\u00a0 Collard with a German suplex.\u00a0 Benitez up.\u00a0 Another body kick by Benitez.\u00a0 Good first round.\u00a0 Benitez 10-9.<\/p>\n
Second round: Nice low kick.\u00a0 Collard bruised up everywhere.\u00a0 Low kicks by Benitez.\u00a0 Benitez with a left to the head and body.\u00a0 Collard got the takedown.\u00a0 Knee to the body and Benitez back up.\u00a0 Benitez bleeding from the side of the head.\u00a0 Benitez with a kick to the body and Collard took him down\u00a0 Another takedown by Collard.\u00a0 Collard punching the body.\u00a0 Collard bleeding from tje nose and right eye.\u00a0 Body shot by Benitez.\u00a0 Knee to the body by Benitez.\u00a0 Low kick by Benitez.\u00a0 Benitez with another body shot.\u00a0 Collard\u2019s hurting.\u00a0 Benitez 20-18.<\/p>\n
Third round: Benitez with low kicks.\u00a0 Left by Collard.\u00a0 Collard is hurting and exhausted.\u00a0 Benitez on top.\u00a0 Benitez let him up.\u00a0 Left to the jaw and kick to the face by Benitez.\u00a0 Collard with a takedown.\u00a0 Another takedown by Collard.\u00a0 Collard landing punches and has his back.\u00a0 Collard throwing punches.\u00a0 Benitez\u2019s round 30-27, although this was close enough with the takedowns you could go 29-28.<\/p>\n
Scores: All three have it 30-27 for Benitez.<\/p>\n
WELTERWEIGHTS: AUGUSTO MONTANO VS. CATHAL PENDRED<\/p>\n
First round: Montano is from Mexico City so the crowd going crazy for him.\u00a0 Side kick by Montano.\u00a0 Kick to the face by Montano.\u00a0 Slow first round.\u00a0 Crowd booing.\u00a0 Montano slipped but Pendred took no advantage of it.\u00a0 Pendred getting mad and Montano still dancing away.\u00a0 Knee by Montano.\u00a0 Montano 10-9.\u00a0 Crowd booing the round heavy.<\/p>\n
Second round: Herb Dean threatened Montano that he\u2019d take points for timidity if he doesn\u2019t do more.\u00a0 Montano hurt him with a right.\u00a0 Pendred pushed him into the fence.\u00a0 Takedown by Pendred.\u00a0 Montano up.\u00a0 Pendred working for another taekdown.\u00a0 He got him down a second time.\u00a0 Third takedown by Pendred.\u00a0 Pendred punching the side of the head.\u00a0 Pendred\u2019s round so 19-19 going into the third round.\u00a0 Crowd booed another round heavy.<\/p>\n
Third round: Pendred pushed him against the fence.\u00a0 Knee by Montano.\u00a0 Crowd booing heavy.\u00a0 Low kick by Pendred.\u00a0 Nothing happening this round.\u00a0 Montano doing nothing.\u00a0 Crowd booed the hell out of this round.\u00a0 Pendred\u2019s round 29-28.<\/p>\n
Scores: Crowd booing even before the scores are.\u00a0 All three have it 29-28 Pendred.<\/p>\n
PRELIMINARY CARD (FX- 8 PM ET\/5 PM PT)<\/p>\n
LIGHTWEIGHTS: FRANCISCO TREVINO VS. JOHNNY CASE<\/p>\n
First round: Case in with with a punch\/kick combo.\u00a0 Case firing.\u00a0 Case with a body kick and body punch.\u00a0 Case landed a right.\u00a0 Side kick by Trevino.\u00a0 Trevino poked him in the eye and Case started screaming.\u00a0 The eye was scratched when a finger was put in.\u00a0 The doctor is checking.\u00a0 His left eye is closing.\u00a0 Case said he could see.\u00a0 They are letting it go.\u00a0 Case with a takedown.\u00a0 Trevino reversed to the top.\u00a0\u00a0 Case 10-9.<\/p>\n
Second round: Takedown by Case.\u00a0 Case moved to side control.\u00a0 Case has a guillotine and Trevino escaped and on top.\u00a0 Trevino with a knee to the body and Case back up.\u00a0 Both tired right now.\u00a0 Takedown by Case.\u00a0 Close round Case 20-18.<\/p>\n
Third round: Case landed a series of shots.\u00a0 Case with an uppercut.\u00a0 Takedown by Case.\u00a0 Case moving forward.\u00a0 Crowd booed the round a lot when it was over.\u00a0 30-27 Case<\/p>\n
Scores: All three have it 30-27 for Case.\u00a0\u00a0 Crowd cheered even though Trevino is of Mexican heritage.<\/p>\n
BANTAMWEIGHTS: ALEJANDRO PEREZ VS. PATRICK WILLIAMS<\/p>\n
First round: Williams out fast with punches, Williams dropped him with two rights and grabbed a guillotine.\u00a0 He choked him out cold.\u00a0 That was the fastest submission in bantamweight history. Not a good night for Mexico so far.\u00a0 :23<\/p>\n
Williams tried a backflip after the win, lost balance and fell on his ass.<\/p>\n
LIGHTWEIGHTS: EFRAIN ESCUDERO VS. DREW DOBER<\/p>\n
First round: Dober slipped on a kick and Escudero grabbed a guillotine.\u00a0 Dober survived for a while in it before tapping.<\/p>\n
FLYWEIGHTS: HENRY CEJUDO VS. CHICO CAMUS<\/p>\n
First round: Camus is defending the takedowns well.\u00a0 Front kick by Cejudo.\u00a0 Camus with a left hook.\u00a0 Cejudo again pushed him into the fence.\u00a0 Camus landed a right.\u00a0 Camus pie faced him on a break and Mario Yamasaki told him not to do it again.\u00a0 Both missing and Camus defending another takedown.\u00a0 Cejudo with a single leg and a left.\u00a0 Cejudo got a takedown but Camus back up.\u00a0 10-9 Cejudo.<\/p>\n
Second round: Cejudo landed a right.\u00a0 Cejudo landed more punches.\u00a0 Fans chanting for Cejudo loudly.\u00a0 Both trading punches.\u00a0 Camus landed two rights.\u00a0 Body kick by Cejudo.\u00a0 Camus blocked another takedown.\u00a0 Both landing punches and Camus landing more.\u00a0 Foot stomps and knee by Cejudo as he has Camus pinned against the fence.\u00a0 Camus landed some punches.\u00a0 Cejudo with a left.\u00a0 Cejudo with a body kick.\u00a0 20-18 Cejudo.<\/p>\n
Third round: Camus landed a right.\u00a0 Camus got poked in the eye.\u00a0 Left by Camus.\u00a0 Cejudo again couldn\u2019t take him down.\u00a0 Camus with a right.\u00a0 Left by Cejudo.\u00a0 Cejudo pushed him into the fence again.\u00a0 Right and left by Cejudo on a break.\u00a0 Left and body kick by Cejudo.\u00a0 Body kick and a right by Cejudo.\u00a0 Camus is going for a takedown with no success.\u00a0 Camus with a right and a left.\u00a0 Camus with a body kick.\u00a0 Cejudo got a takedown late in the round.\u00a0 Camus back up.\u00a0 Close round but I have 30-27 Cejudo.<\/p>\n
Scores: 29-28, 30-27 and 30-27 Cejudo <\/p>\n
MAIN CARD *****<\/p>\n
WOMEN’S STRAWWEIGHTS: TECIA TORRES VS. ANGELA HILL<\/p>\n
First round: Torres pushed her into the fence but couldn\u2019t get her down.\u00a0 Torres then got the takedown.\u00a0 Torres landing a lot of punches late to win the round.\u00a0 10-9 Torres.<\/p>\n
Second round: Torres with punches and got the takedown.\u00a0 Torres landed in side control but Hill got guard.\u00a0 Torres into side control.\u00a0 McCarthy ordered a stand up.\u00a0 20-18 Torres.<\/p>\n
Third round: Trading low kicks.\u00a0 Nice exchange.\u00a0 Torres landed punches.\u00a0 Torres with a left hook.\u00a0 Hill landing a left.\u00a0 Both trading.\u00a0 Crowd booing as Torres was working for a takedown and didn\u2019t get it.\u00a0 Ref John McCarthy called a break with 1:08 left.\u00a0 Both very tired in this round.\u00a0 Torres pushed her against the fence again working for a takedown and not getting it.\u00a0 Crowd booing.\u00a0 Torres 30-27.\u00a0 Crowd booed this a lot.<\/p>\n
Scores: 30-27, 30-27 for 29-28 Torres<\/p>\n
FEATHERWEIGHTS: YAIR RODRIGUEZ VS. CHARLES ROSA<\/p>\n
First round: Spin kick by Rodriguez.\u00a0 Awesome enzuigiri by Rodriguez.\u00a0 Front kick by Rodriguez.\u00a0 Flying knee but Rosa took him down.\u00a0 Rodriguez working for a triangle.\u00a0 Place going crazy.\u00a0 Rosa landing punches from the top.\u00a0 Rosa has his back.\u00a0 Rodriguez getting up.\u00a0 Crowd loving this.\u00a0 Nice takedown by Rosa.\u00a0 Up kicks by Rodriguez and both throwing punches but Rosa was landing from the top.\u00a0 Rosa landing elbows to the body.\u00a0 Rosa went for a kneebar after Rodriguez went for an armbar.\u00a0 Super round.\u00a0 Rodriguez 10-9.<\/p>\n
Second round: Crowd super loud.\u00a0 Side kick by Rodriguez.\u00a0 Rodriguez with a body kick.\u00a0 Rosa trying for a takedown and getting nowhere close.\u00a0 Spin kick by Rodriguez.\u00a0 Body kick by Rodriguez.\u00a0 Rosa landed a good left.\u00a0 Left by Rodriguez.\u00a0 Rodriguez with a judo takedown into mount.\u00a0 Rodriguez stands back up.\u00a0 Rosa bleeding badly from the left eye.\u00a0 Rosa trying for a takedown and not getting it.\u00a0 They are going to check the cut.\u00a0 They let the fight continue.\u00a0 Nice low kick by Rodriguez.\u00a0 Rosa tried a takedown but Rodriguez stepped away.\u00a0 Rodriguez missed a high kick.\u00a0 Rosa going for a leglock but Rodriguez punching him and stood up.\u00a0 Big right by Rosa. Rosa got a takedown.\u00a0 Rodriguez reversed and stood up.\u00a0 Rodriguez 20-18.<\/p>\n
Third round: Rosa landed a right.\u00a0 Low kick by Rosa.\u00a0 Low kick by Rodriguez.\u00a0 Rosa working for a takedown and got him down.\u00a0 Crowd booing Rodriguez being on the ground.\u00a0 Rosa split him open with an elbow.\u00a0 Rosa landing punches on the ground.\u00a0 Rodriguez working for the triangle.\u00a0 Rodriguez is landing elbows while holding the triangle.\u00a0 Rosa escaped the triangle.\u00a0 Rodriguez out of trouble and back to his feet.\u00a0 Body kick by Rodriguez.\u00a0 Takedown by Rosa.\u00a0 Rosa into side control.\u00a0 Rosa landkng punches late .\u00a0 Rosa\u2019s round 29-28 Rodrigeuz.\u00a0 Super fight.<\/p>\n
Scores: \u00a029-28 Rosa 29-28 Rodriguez 29-28 Rodriguez.\u00a0Rodriguez threw up on himself during the post-fight interview.<\/p>\n
MIDDLEWEIGHTS: KELVIN GASTELUM VS. NATE MARQUARDT<\/p>\n
First round: Body kick by Marquardt.\u00a0 Gastelum landing lefts.\u00a0 Knee by Gastelum.\u00a0 Big right by Marquardt.\u00a0 Gastelum with more punches.\u00a0 Left and right by Gastelum.\u00a0 Marquardt back with punches.\u00a0 Gastelum with a left.\u00a0 Gastelum with an elbow\u00a0 Marquardt landed a right.\u00a0 Right by Gaselum.\u00a0 Loud Mexico chant.\u00a0 Right to the body by Marquardt.\u00a0 Marquardt with a takedown. Gastelum back up and landed.\u00a0 Gastelum got a takedown.\u00a0 Gastelum has his back.\u00a0 Body kick by Gastleum hard lefts by Gastelum.\u00a0 Gastelum has him hurt late in the round.\u00a0 10-9 Gastelum<\/p>\n
Second round: Gastelum with a right.\u00a0 Gastelum with a head kick.\u00a0 Gastelum with punches and two hard knees.\u00a0 He\u2019s punching him on the ground.\u00a0 Gastelum on top with punches.\u00a0 Marquardt tripped him down and Gastelum went for a guillotine.\u00a0 Marquardt dropped.\u00a0 Gastelum has his back and is throwing punches.\u00a0 Marquardt tried a reverse but Gastelum blocked it and stayed on top.\u00a0 Gastelum with elbows from the top.\u00a0 Hard body shots by Gastelum.\u00a0 Gastelum 10-8 round 20-17 Gastelum.<\/p>\n
Third round: Marquardt\u2019s corner stopped the fight.\u00a0 Marquardt said I\u2019ve got nothing left and they stopped it.<\/p>\n
LIGHTWEIGHTS: GILBERT MELENDEZ VS. EDDIE ALVAREZ<\/p>\n
First round: Alvarez in with punches.\u00a0 Melendez with jabs.\u00a0 Hard right elbow by Melendez hurt him.\u00a0 Left by Melendez.\u00a0 Another left by Meldnez.\u00a0 Right by Melendez.\u00a0 Both fighting far more cautious than expected.\u00a0 Melendez with a punch and Alvarez with a low kick.\u00a0 Alvarez landed a punch.\u00a0 Melendez with a jab.\u00a0 Alvarez staying on the outside.\u00a0 Melendez 10-9. <\/p>\n
Seoind rund: Alvarez left eye looks real bad.\u00a0 Alvarez with a nice right.\u00a0 Alvarez\u2019s left eye looks terriible.\u00a0 Left by Alvarez.\u00a0 Left by Alvarez.\u00a0 Alvarez working for a takedown.\u00a0 Low kick by Alvarez.\u00a0 Melendez faked a takedown and hit a knee.\u00a0 Crowd wants more action and now booing. Right by Melendez.\u00a0 Alvarez working for a takedown.\u00a0 Alvarez got the takedown.\u00a0 Spinnig elbow by Alvarez.\u00a0 Alvarez\u2019s round so 19-19.<\/p>\n
Third round: Alvarez working for a takedown.\u00a0 Melendez throwing short punches and Alvarez working for a takedown.\u00a0 Alvarez got him down.\u00a0 Alvarez went for a takedown and Melendez threw a knee.\u00a0 Alvarez landed an overhand right.\u00a0 Melendez is really tired.\u00a0 His mouth is wide open and breathing heavy.\u00a0 Low kick b Alvaerz.\u00a0 Takedown by Alvarez.\u00a0 Melendez back up.\u00a0 Alvarez with another takedown.\u00a0 Melendez breathing super heavy.\u00a0 Both trading.\u00a0 Spinning elbow by Alvarez cut him badly.\u00a0\u00a0 Both swinging.\u00a0 Crowd booed hem.\u00a0 Alvarez\u2019s round 29-28.<\/p>\n
Scores: 29-28 Alvarez 29-28 Melendez 29-28 Alvarez<\/p>\n
UFC HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP: CAIN VELASQUEZ VS. FABRICIO WERDUM<\/p>\n
First round: Both swinging. Werdum dropped. Both trading punches. Werdum grabbed a clinch. Both swinging more. Velasquez with a knee and punches. Crowd is going crazy.\u00a0Velasquez with a knee and punches. \u00a0Velasquez punched him and is bleeding from the eye. Velasquez took him down into side control. Velasquez got back up and pushed him into the fence. Werdum tried a trip but didn\u2019t get it. Both trading.\u00a0 Velasquez landing several punches. Werdum got a takedown. Werdum with a knee. Both trading again. Both are getting tired from the pace. Werdum with jabs and landing punches now. Velasquez landing punches and Werdum back. Takedown by Velasquez. Velasquez let him up and is all bloody. Right by Werdum but Velasquez back with punches.\u00a0 Velasquez 10-9.<\/p>\n
Second round: Velasquez with a punch and low kick. Both trading.\u00a0 More low kicks by Velasquez. Werdum with a good punch but Velasquez with several more punches. Front kick by Werdum. Velasquez is tiring. Body kick by Velasquez. Werdum back. Knee by Werdum. Werdum hurt him with punches Velasquez back with punches. Werdum hurt him with a right. Velasquez landing a lot of punches.\u00a0 Werdum with two punches. Werdum hurt him with an uppercut and a knee. The altitude is killing Velasquez. Velasquez doesn\u2019t have any power left. Right by Velasquez but Werdum back with a right. Hard right by Werdum. Werdum with a left and right. Werdum hurt Velasquez with a knee.\u00a0 Werdum with a right and a knee. Werdum\u2019s round 19-19.<\/p>\n
Third round: Werdum landing jabs. Takedown by Velasquez. Velasquez kicking the leg. Werdum back up. Left by Werdum. Head kick by Velasquez. Werdum has a guillotine, but Velasquez escaped. Werdum landing a punch and a knee. Velasquez back with a right. Both exchanging. Velasquez with a takedown, but got caught in a Werdum guillotine. Velasquez tapped out at 2:13.<\/p>\n
We have a new undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n