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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.
Kelvin Gastelum def. Nate Marquardt by TKO (corner stoppage) at 5:00 of Round Two
Gastelum once again produced a magnificent performance in front of his people as he annihilated Nate Marquardt. Gastelum established the range early with his jab and constantly tagged Marquardt. Gastelum hurt Marquardt his shots and even took him down and tried to lock his favorite submission move but failed.
Round two was no different as Gastelum pushed the pace and kept tagging Marquardt with hard shots and stiff jab. He hurt Marquardt against the fence with a knee followed by barrage of punches. From there he was just rag dolling Marquardt who only was survived by the bell but it was clear he had nothing left to fight anymore and his corner called the fight off knowing their fighter could not continue and there was no need to receive any more punishment.
Eddie Alvarez def. Gilbert Melendez by split decision (28-29, 29-28 x2)
Co main event featured a fight 5 years in the making and it was evident that the high altitude was not kind to Gilbert Melendez who is known for his tremendous cardio but was spent by round 2 and end up losing a close decision to Eddie Alvarez.
He had Eddie Alvarez in major danger in round 1 with a nasty elbow to the nose which really hurt Alvarez and immediately put him in defensive mode. Between the rounds, Alvarez made a rookie mistake of blowing his probably broken nose which immediately swelled his eye and was almost shut.
Melendez made the mistake of not consistently attacking that eye and Alvarez showed tremendous heart not only to stay in the fight but mount some offence with leg kicks and his offensive wrestling. By the third round, Alvarez wore him down considerably with his offensive wrestling and won the round clearly with leg kicks and some spinning attacks as well.
Fabricio Werdum def. Cain Velasquez by submission (guillotine choke) at 2:13 of Round Three
Velasquez returned to the ring after two year and probably took the high altitude of Mexico a bit lightly and paid the price. Werdum not only showed what two back to back big camps can do for you at high altitude in a championship fight but also put the best performance of his career against the most dangerous guy he ever faced.
The round one went exactly went how everyone thought with Cain putting pressure right from the start and using his combos and clinch fighting to tire his opponent out. He was tagging Werdum constantly even took Werdum down but smartly avoided any ground fighting and kept the fight standing at his advantage. But by the end of the round Cain looked a bit fatigued while Werdum started landing some good shots.
Round two was all Werdum not only he showed power advantage over the champ, but his cardio was excellent while Cain looked very slow and tired. Werdum not only landed the better shots but hurt Cain several times. Cain still was hesitant to go to the ground but was losing the battle on the feet as well. In between the rounds, Cains corner advised him to take the fight to the ground.
In the third, Werdum started with some nice jabs but Cain listening to his corner took Werdum down who immediately threatened with a guillotine choke but did not get it and he stood up. Cain once again took Werdum down but this time Werdum locked that neck perfectly and Cain tapped immediately. Werdum is the new undisputed UFC HW champion of the world.
