[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]MMA fans saw the crowning of a new and undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champion Saturday night in Mexico City as Fabricio Werdum wore down Cain Velasquez and submitted him midway through the third round to claim the championship.
Originally, Werdum was supposed to have fought Velasquez last November for the belt, but Velasquez was injured and pulled out of the fight. Instead, Werdum beat Mark Hunt to win the interim championship at UFC 180. Cain Velasquez hadn’t fought in 603 days, since a win over Junior dos Santos at UFC 166 in Houston on Oct. 19, 2013.
The ring rust showed early into the fight and the high altitude of Mexico City did not help matters. Werdum was familiar with it because of his fight against Hunt and knew how to prepare for it. Werdum spent 40 days in Mexico training at 10,000 feet, while Velasquez only arrived two weeks out and prepared in Mexico City at 7,500.
Early into the fight, it was clear that Werdum had more left in the tank while Velasquez who had been known for his exceptional cardiovascular conditioning, was struggling with the Mexico City altitude. Cain Velasquez dominated the first round with heavy strikes but Werdum did not panic.
Starting in the second round, Werdum was able to pick apart Velasquez at will because Cain was gasping for air. In the third round, Velasquez went for the takedown, in which he succeeded, however Werdum wrapped his arm around the neck of Velasquez and sunk in the guillotine to take the title.
Werdum is a noted jiu-jitsu expert and saw the open neck of Velasquez as a giant gift to put the big man away. Werdum was quoted in the post fight interview with Joe Rogan as saying, “I prepared myself for this moment for two years,” he said. “I believed in myself and my team believed in me. I believed and I visualized this moment a lot of time.”
There is no word if an immediate rematch has been scheduled, but the smart money is on one to occur the last weekend of December.
Until next time fight fans![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]