UFC 188: Velasquez vs. Werdum Early Main Card Preview and Predictions
While UFC 188 likely can't quite live up to the epic UFC 187 card, it will certainly try with a heavyweight title unification bout and a lineup of interesting fights featuring both new and old talent.
The full card is as follows:
- Cain Velasquez vs. Fabrício Werdum
- Gilbert Melendez vs. Eddie Alvarez
- Kelvin Gastelum vs. Nate Marquardt
- Yair Rodriguez vs. Charles Rosa
- Tecia Torres vs. Angela Hill
- Chico Camus vs. Henry Cejudo
- Efrain Escudero vs. Drew Dober
- Alejandro Perez vs. Patrick Williams
- Francisco Trevino vs. Johnny Case
- Augusto Montano vs. Cathal Pendred
- Gabriel Benitez vs. Clay Collard
- Hector Urbina vs. Albert Tumenov
The bout order is yet to be confirmed, but there are four bouts that clearly stick out, in addition to the main event.
Gilbert Melendez and Eddie Alvarez face off in a super-compelling matchup of long-time UFC outsiders, and Kelvin Gastelum looks to nail down a place in the middleweight division at the expense of veteran Nate Marquardt. Not only that but hot up-and-comers Henry Cejudo and Tecia Torres take on Chico Camus and Angela Hill, respectively.
So what do you need to know about these fights? Who is likely to come out on top? Read on and find out!
Tecia Torres vs. Angela Hill
1 of 5
Division: Women's Strawweight
Records: Tecia Torres (5-0), Angela Hill (2-0)
Tecia Torres and Angela Hill entered the 20th season of The Ultimate Fighter on opposite ends of the expectation spectrum. Torres, courtesy of her 4-0 record in Invicta FC, was one of the favorites to take it all—never mind the fact that she had never been tested against a serious wrestler and hadn't faced an especially experienced contender at that point. Hill, due to her 1-0 record, was expected to wash out of the UFC cleanly despite the fact that she was possibly the season's greatest knockout threat and is one of the better athletes in the division.
After 11 agonizing weeks, The Ultimate Fighter showed fans one thing: there are no sure things in the women's strawweight division at this point.
On paper, this is all Torres. Her experience, gym and strength of competition all put Hill to shame.
But on paper, Joanna Jedrzejczyk was no match for Carla Esparza. Maryna Moroz was an easy win for Joanne Calderwood. The list goes on.
This one is pretty much a pick 'em. Torres could take this one with her diverse striking arsenal, but Hill's heavy hands could easily wind up taking the night.
Prediction: Tecia Torres def. Angela Hill by Unanimous Decision
Henry Cejudo vs. Chico Camus
2 of 5
Division: Flyweight
Records: Henry Cejudo (8-0), Chico Camus (14-5 (1))
Henry Cejudo didn't just beat Chris Cariaso at UFC 185. He beat the proverbial demons that haunted him following his kooky run on the regional circuit. Now he only has one thing to concern himself with: working toward a title shot. His next stop on the track to contention is Chico Camus, and he should be able to keep on cruising without much trouble.
Camus has consistently struggled during his UFC career, compiling a humble 3-2 (1) record that is padded with questionable wins over Brad Pickett and Kyung-Ho Kang. Against a fighter like Cejudo, who has demonstrated nothing but dominance in his MMA career, that pretty much spells doom.
Cejudo is an amazing wrestler, and his striking has looked absolutely brilliant to this point. Look for him to take the victory without much trouble.
Prediction: Henry Cejudo def. Chico Camus by Unanimous Decision
Kelvin Gastelum vs. Nate Marquardt
3 of 5
Division: Middleweight
Records: Kelvin Gastelum (10-1), Nate Marquardt (33-14-2)
Kelvin Gastelum is one of the greatest successes in The Ultimate Fighter's recent history. Winner of the show's 17th season, Gastelum promptly dropped down from 185 pounds to 170 and quickly asserted himself as a top-10 fighter with a four-fight winning streak that included victories over Rick Story and Jake Ellenberger.
That success, however, was marred by an inability to consistently make weight, and when he came in 10 pounds too heavy for a losing effort opposite Tyron Woodley, the UFC forced him out of the welterweight division. His return opponent at middleweight? Nate Marquardt.
Marquardt seemed to be poised for a successful run at welterweight when he joined Strikeforce in 2012 and took the vacant strap in a bout against Woodley. As he's gone 1-4 since that win, however, it has been largely downhill thereafter. While he returned to middleweight with a winning effort against James Te Huna, he most recently returned to form with a loss to the struggling Brad Tavares.
Needless to say, the expected outcome here for both this writer and the UFC headquarters is a fairly decisive win for Gastelum. Even at his best, Marquardt was never the greatest counter-wrestler, and the 2015 model likely isn't an improvement. While the veteran may have a number of tricks up his sleeve and some name value, this fight was tailor-made for Gastelum to win (which, not coincidentally, would add a bit of extra visibility to his upcoming coaching gig on The Ultimate Fighter: Latino America 2). Look for him to take the "W" without a great deal of trouble.
Prediction: Kelvin Gastelum def. Nate Marquardt by Unanimous Decision
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Gilbert Melendez vs. Eddie Alvarez
4 of 5
Division: Lightweight
Records: Gilbert Melendez (22-4), Eddie Alvarez (25-4)
Gilbert Melendez and Eddie Alvarez have long been elite-level lightweights, but for 10 long years their career paths ran parallel.
Melendez rose to prominence as WEC's inaugural lightweight champion, sharpened his teeth in Shooto and Pride and then cemented his place as a top-five lightweight in Strikeforce. Eddie Alvarez tore apart the northeastern regional scene before becoming Dream's breakout star, then achieved mainstream visibility as Bellator MMA's lightweight champion.
It took a while, but now they are both fighting in the same promotion, and this hardcore fan's dream match will finally be a reality.
Stylistically, Alvarez and Melendez are strikingly similar. Wrestling standouts that went right from high school to cage fighting, they took their grappling foundations and built technical boxing games on top of them. That gives them true all-over-the-cage skills that are good enough to contend with almost anyone in the division.
This fight is a toss-up. Melendez likely owns a modest edge in the wrestling department, while Alvarez's striking is a tad better. The official prediction here, obviously, is a Melendez decision win—but Alvarez could easily wind up taking this one.
Prediction: Gilbert Melendez def. Eddie Alvarez by Unanimous Decision
Cain Velasquez vs. Fabricio Werdum
5 of 5
Division: Heavyweight
Records: Cain Velasquez (13-1), Fabricio Werdum (19-5-1)
At his best, Cain Velasquez is an absolute force of nature. His inimitable pace, legitimately freakish cardio and high-level wrestling make him pretty much impossible to stop. He's a one-of-a-kind fighter and could easily wind up being the most dominant heavyweight in UFC history.
The only trouble? He is never, ever healthy. Ever. Two knee injuries and a shoulder surgery deep into his career and 18 months separated from his last fight, it's easy to wonder when he will hit that point where his body just stops cooperating with him. Or when it breaks down just enough to open the door for a fighter like Fabricio Werdum.
Werdum doesn't need much of an opening to defeat any given opponent, of course. Suddenly an opportunistic striker, and ever the submission expert, he would be a tough out for Velasquez even if he were in peak condition and active. If Velasquez doesn't come back in strong form, this one could easily break in the Brazilian's favor.
That said, if Velasquez is still as good as he was in 2013, he is the clear favorite. Look for him to work his wrestling and win rounds or to wear Werdum down and score a late finish.
Prediction: Cain Velasquez def. Fabricio Werdum by Unanimous Decision
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