MEXICO CITY – Fabricio Werdum’s improbable rise from an up-and-down light heavyweight to a dominant heavyweight champion culminated Saturday with an extraordinary victory over Cain Velasquez in their title unification bout in the main event of UFC 188.
Werdum’s striking overwhelmed Velasquez and forced the former champion to try to take him down. As a spent Velasquez shot for a takedown midway through the third round, Werdum caught him in a guillotine choke and quickly forced the tap.
Velasquez fought a strong first round, landing a series of right hands.