UFC Fight Night 68 Results: Burning Questions Heading into UFC 188
UFC Fight Night 68 is in the books. The results are as follows (courtesy of Bleacher Report's play-by-play kingpin, Craig Amos):
UFC Fight Night 68 Main Card
- Dan Henderson def. Tim Boetsch, TKO (Round 1, 0:28)
- Ben Rothwell def. Matt Mitrione, submission (Round 1, 1:54)
- Dustin Poirier def. Yancy Medeiros, TKO (Round 1, 2:38)
- Brian Ortega def. Thiago Tavares, TKO (Round 3, 4:10)
- Anthony Birchak def. Joe Soto, KO (Round 1, 1:37)
- Francisco Rivera def. Alex Caceres, KO (Round 1, 0:21)
Fox Sports 1 Prelims
- Shawn Jordan def. Derrick Lewis, TKO (Round 2, 0:48)
- Omari Akhmedov def. Brian Ebersole, TKO (Round 1, 5:00)
- Chris Wade def. Christos Giagos, unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
- Joe Proctor def. Justin Edwards, submission (Round 3, 4:58)
UFC Fight Pass Prelims
- Jake Collier def. Ricardo Abreu, split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
- Jose Quinonez def. Leonardo Morales, submission (Round 1, 2:34)
Next up? UFC 188 on June 13.
Cain Velasquez finally returns to the cage after a 20-month layoff to take on Fabricio Werdum for the unified UFC heavyweight title. Not only that, but veteran lightweights Eddie Alvarez and Gilbert Melendez face off in a long-awaited showdown between former outsider stars.
So what else is there to look forward to on this card? What topics should you be talking about around the water cooler? Find out here!
Will Any Mexican Fighters Actually Look Good?
1 of 7
The Fight: Yair Rodriguez vs. Charles Rosa, Alejandro Perez vs. Patrick Williams, Augusto Montano vs. Cathal Pendred, etc.
The Real Fight: Mexican MMA vs. the Rest of the World
The Stakes
The UFC desperately wants to entrench itself in Mexico. The best way to start doing so, of course, is to build a sizable, sustainable talent base in the country that can compete with the world's best. UFC 188 will serve as the coming-out party for the first wave of homegrown Mexican fighters, and you can bet your last dollar that the UFC brass will have their fingers and toes crossed that they win.
The Question
Will any Mexican fighters actually look good?
Analysis
There's little to discuss here if you've kept track of the UFC's forays into Australia and China. The UFC uses The Ultimate Fighter to quickly identify and develop talent in foreign markets and showcase them against relatively soft opposition. The talent needs to do their part and work their way up.
So will the Yair Rodriguezes and Alejandro Perezes make it work? We shall see!
Will Henry Cejudo Cruise to Victory?
2 of 7
The Fight: Chico Camus vs. Henry Cejudo
The Real Fight: Chico Camus vs. Steppingstone Status
The Stakes
With two pleasantly uneventful wins separating him from his UFC 177 weight-cutting kerfuffle, Henry Cejudo has successfully retaken the moniker of "most exciting prospect in MMA." Now he just needs to continue building his resume. Set to face Chico Camus, Cejudo has a great opportunity to hone his ringcraft while building his brand in front of UFC fans.
The Question
Will Henry Cejudo cruise to victory?
Analysis
Cejudo is a treat to watch in the cage. His Olympic gold medal in freestyle wrestling speaks for itself, but it is his ever-improving striking game that is most impressive.
While there were some concerns that he would get the Kyoji Horiguchi treatment and be rushed toward a doomed-to-fail title bout, the UFC seems to be grooming him for the time being. That's a wise move, and it will hopefully one day result in him being a true challenge for the dominant Demetrious Johnson.
Which TUF20 Also-Ran Will Climb into the Title Picture?
3 of 7
The Fight: Tecia Torres vs. Angela Hill
The Real Fight: Young Fighters vs. Crazy Division
The Stakes
In the wild, crazy women's strawweight division, where there is no such thing as a sure thing, any big win could lead to a title shot. For Angela Hill and Tecia Torres, two of the hotter names coming out of The Ultimate Fighter Season 20, UFC 188 offers a golden opportunity to vault into contention. All they have to do is notch a win.
The Question
Which TUF20 also-ran will climb into the title picture?
Analysis
Torres' run in Invicta, where she convincingly defeated Rose Namajunas, Paige VanZant and Felice Herrig, keeps her on the short list of contenders after an ugly run on TUF20. While Hill's body of work is nowhere near as extensive with just two professional fights, she is one of the top prospects at 115 pounds, and a win over Torres would be a career-changer.
Outside the main event, this fight has the most title implications on the card. Whoever wins could easily be fighting for the belt in the near future.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Will Kelvin Gastelum Get the Hype Train Back on Track?
4 of 7
The Fight: Kelvin Gastelum vs. Nate Marquardt
The Real Fight: Kelvin Gastelum vs. Cutting Weight
The Stakes
TUF17 winner Kelvin Gastelum almost wound up challenging for the welterweight strap after UFC 183. Unfortunately, he came up one judge short of beating Tyron Woodley and 10 pounds short of making the 170-pound weight limit. Now, he needs to start from scratch in the middleweight division and is tasked with facing veteran contender Nate Marquardt.
The Question
Will Kelvin Gastelum get the hype train back on track?
Analysis
Gastelum was one of the best fighters produced by The Ultimate Fighter in recent years and quickly worked his way into the Top 10 of one of the deepest divisions in MMA. Unfortunately, nary a fight went by where he didn't either struggle to make weight or miss the mark entirely.
When John Lineker—a fighter who similarly fought his way into a title shot but ate his way out of it—muddied up the flyweight division's hierarchy by breaking both skulls and scales, both he and Gastelum were forced to move up in weight.
Whether that is fair or not is debatable. Regardless, Gastelum needs to win, and win big, over Marquardt if he wants to start heading back in the right direction.
Which Veteran Lightweight Will Become the Biggest UFC Bust Ever?
5 of 7
The Fight: Gilbert Melendez vs. Eddie Alvarez
The Real Fight: Fighters vs. Fans
The Stakes
Gilbert Melendez and Eddie Alvarez entered the Octagon after lengthy, successful careers in outside promotions but have struggled to find footing in the UFC. Set to face off under a particularly bright spotlight, the winner will return to the title picture, while the loser will wrongly be thrown into the "biggest bust" discussion.
The Question
Which veteran lightweight will become the biggest UFC bust ever?
Analysis
It's a situation we've seen time and time again. "Fighters outside the UFC just aren't up to snuff," says a fan. "Who has this guy beaten? Nobody I've heard of, that's for sure," says a random commenter. UFC diehards have always been quick to express their skepticism regarding non-UFC fighters, and no matter how many Luke Rockholds and Ben Hendersons rise up, fans are always quickest to dwell on the Mauricio Ruas and Mirko Cro Cops.
Alvarez and Melendez have undeniable skills, but the loser of this fight will become a lightning rod for these types. It's a sad situation but, unfortunately, an unavoidable one.
Will Cain Velasquez Look the Same After His Long Layoff?
6 of 7
The Fight: Cain Velasquez vs. Fabricio Werdum
The Real Fight: Cain Velasquez vs. His Body Being Made Entirely Out of Porcelain and Dry Rubber Bands
The Stakes
Cain Velasquez returns to the cage for the first time since October 2013 to unify the UFC heavyweight title. Long layoffs, unfortunately, have been par for the course for him since he defeated Brock Lesnar in 2010. While he has consistently looked excellent on the rare occasion he shows up for a fight, his propensity for injury makes it easy to wonder how many bouts he has left in him.
The Question
Will Cain Velasquez look the same after his long layoff?
Analysis
Velasquez is an impressive physical specimen and a savvy fighter. But, as I once discussed about Mark Munoz:
"Munoz was one of the best middleweights in MMA just a few years ago...Then an injury came. And another. And another. Wrestling is a brutal sport, and those nicks and tears and creaks add up by the year until, one day, you just can't fight anymore...For all his skills and smarts, you simply can't win many fights when your elbows, feet and knees don't work.
"
Does Fabricio Werdum Have Any New Tricks Up His Sleeve?
7 of 7
The Fight: Cain Velasquez vs. Fabricio Werdum
The Real Fight: Fabricio Werdum vs. the Baddest Man on the Planet
The Stakes
Fabricio Werdum was long considered a good heavyweight, but since joining the UFC, he has looked fantastic. There is no fighter, however, as fearsome as Cain Velasquez, and even if the champ is rusty after 18 months out of the cage, Werdum will still need to use all the tools he has shown thus far, and perhaps a few more, if he wants to keep wearing UFC gold.
The Question
Does Fabricio Werdum have any new tricks up his sleeve?
Analysis
Not all that long ago, Werdum was considered a submission specialist, but year by year, fight by fight, he has added layers to his game. Today, he is a rangy striker with a good bit of power and explosiveness, coupled with some above-average cardio...and all the ground skills you could want.
That said, Velasquez's wrestling and pace are the X-factors here. If Werdum can't keep up with Velasquez, the champ will likely swallow him up as he did Junior dos Santos. If Werdum can stay in his comfort zone, though, this could be a true battle of wills.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
