UFC 188: Velasquez vs. Werdum | Event Profile, Full Results & Legacy
- Daniel Cornmeat
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
Introduction
UFC 188: Velasquez vs. Werdum. June 13, 2015. Arena Ciudad de México, Mexico City, Mexico. The second UFC event in Mexico. Fabricio Werdum unified the UFC Heavyweight Championship by submitting Cain Velasquez with a guillotine choke on the ground in the third round, at 2:13.
This was the fight that had been planned for UFC 180 in November 2014 before Velasquez withdrew with a knee injury three weeks out. Werdum had beaten Mark Hunt for the interim title at UFC 180 and entered this fight as its holder. Velasquez had been inactive since UFC 166 in October 2013 — a 20-month layoff.
The fight’s altitude dimension was significant: the Arena Ciudad de México sits at approximately 7,400 feet above sea level. Velasquez’s legendary cardio — the foundation of his HW dominance — visibly failed him from round two onwards. Eddie Alvarez defeated Gilbert Melendez in the co-main event. Yair Rodriguez and Henry Cejudo also won on the card.
Contents
Quick Stats
Date: June 13, 2015
Venue: Arena Ciudad de México, Mexico City, Mexico (SECOND UFC IN MEXICO; 7,400 ft altitude)
Main Event: Cain Velasquez (c) vs. Fabricio Werdum (interim c) — UFC HW Unification (originally at UFC 180; Cain withdrew with knee injury)
Result: Werdum def. Cain — Sub (Guillotine Choke, Ground) R3, 2:13 — Werdum undisputed HW Champion; Cain 20-month layoff; altitude factor
Co-Main: Eddie Alvarez def. Gilbert Melendez — SD — LW
Bonuses: POTN: Werdum + Patrick Williams ($50k each)
The Build-Up
Velasquez vs. Werdum had been anticipated for over a year. At UFC 180 in November 2014, Velasquez withdrew with a torn MCL and meniscus three weeks before the event. Werdum went on to stop Hunt with a flying knee in round two to claim the interim title. When Velasquez was finally cleared, the unification was rescheduled for Mexico City.
Velasquez had last fought at UFC 166 in October 2013 — a dominant TKO five over Junior dos Santos. His 20-month absence was the longest of any active UFC HW champion in the division’s history. He arrived in Mexico City having performed all training at altitude to acclimatise. Werdum had done the same, based in Mexico City for his entire training camp.
Main Event
Cain Velasquez (c) vs. Fabricio Werdum (interim c) — UFC HW Unification
Round one: both fighters exchanged heavily at range. Velasquez pressed forward with combinations. A cut opened above his eye. Werdum’s Muay Thai clinch was active; each time Velasquez pushed him to the fence, Werdum worked knees and elbows. Round one was likely Velasquez’s on output.
Round two: the altitude began its work. Velasquez’s pace slowed measurably. Werdum’s combinations landed with increasing accuracy; he snapped Cain’s head back repeatedly with straight punches and knees. By the end of R2, Velasquez was on wobbled legs.
Round three: Velasquez shot a double-leg takedown. He drove forward — and landed directly in Werdum’s guard. Werdum locked a guillotine choke from the bottom, pulled full guard, and applied pressure. Velasquez tapped at 2:13. Fabricio Werdum was the undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champion. Post-fight: ‘I respect Cain. He’s a great champion. But today was my day.’
Co-Main Event
Eddie Alvarez vs. Gilbert Melendez — Lightweight
Alvarez had lost his UFC debut to Donald Cerrone in September 2014. This fight was a bounced-back test against the former Strikeforce LW Champion, who himself had come off a guillotine submission loss to Pettis at UFC 181. Alvarez won by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) after a competitive three rounds. It set him on course for the LW title fight that would come at UFC 205.
Full Results
Preliminary Card
Patrick Williams def. Alejandro Perez — Sub (Guillotine) — R1, 0:23 — BW; POTN ($50k); fastest submission in WEC/UFC BW history
Johnny Case def. Francisco Trevino — Decision (Unanimous) — R3 — LW
Efrain Escudero def. Drew Dober — Sub (Guillotine) — R1, 0:54 — LW
Henry Cejudo def. Chico Camus — Decision (Unanimous) — R3 — FW [125 lbs]; Cejudo 2008 Olympic gold medallist
Main Card
Tecia Torres def. Angela Hill — Decision (Unanimous) — R3 — WSW
Yair Rodriguez def. Charles Rosa — Decision (Split) — R3 — FW; Rodriguez continuing FW ascent
Kelvin Gastelum def. Nate Marquardt — TKO (Corner Stoppage) — R2, 5:00 — WW
Eddie Alvarez def. Gilbert Melendez — Decision (Split) — R3, 5:00 (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) — LW; Co-Main
Fabricio Werdum def. Cain Velasquez — Sub (Guillotine Choke) — R3, 2:13 — HW Unification Championship; Werdum undisputed champion; POTN ($50k)
Bonuses & Awards
Performance of the Night: Fabricio Werdum + Patrick Williams — $50,000 each.
Records & Milestones
Fabricio Werdum — became the first undisputed UFC HW Champion since Cain Velasquez unified the titles. Werdum’s jiu-jitsu trap — baiting the double-leg and applying a guillotine from guard — was a tactical masterpiece.
Cain Velasquez — 20-month absence before UFC 188 was the longest for any active UFC HW Champion. His legendary cardio, which had defined his championship wins over JDS, was visibly compromised at Mexico City altitude.
Patrick Williams — fastest submission in WEC/UFC bantamweight history at 0:23 of round one. The guillotine choke on Alejandro Perez was the quickest BW sub stoppage in the unified organisation’s history.
Legacy & Impact
UFC 188 settled the HW division’s most anticipated unification in years. Werdum’s guillotine of Velasquez was no accident: he had trained in Mexico City, adapted to the altitude, and used his jiu-jitsu to nullify the one tool Velasquez planned to use against him. It was a complete game plan, executed at the elite level.
The altitude at Arena Ciudad de México remains the most discussed environmental factor in UFC HW championship history. Whether Velasquez’s decline was primarily altitude, long layoff, or Werdum’s preparation remains a contested narrative. The result was unambiguous.
FAQ
Was UFC 188 the original Velasquez vs. Werdum fight?
No. Velasquez and Werdum were originally scheduled as the main event of UFC 180 in November 2014. Velasquez withdrew with a knee injury three weeks before the event. Werdum stopped Mark Hunt for the interim title at UFC 180. UFC 188 was the rescheduled unification.
Did altitude affect Cain Velasquez at UFC 188?
Yes. Mexico City’s altitude of approximately 7,400 feet visibly affected Velasquez’s conditioning from round two onwards. His legendary cardio — the defining factor in his HW title reigns — was noticeably diminished. Werdum trained in Mexico City for the entire camp, fully acclimated.
How did Werdum finish Velasquez?
In round three, Velasquez shot a double-leg takedown and drove forward into Werdum’s guard. Werdum immediately locked a guillotine choke from the bottom, pulled full guard, and applied the squeeze. Velasquez tapped at 2:13.
How long had Cain Velasquez been out before UFC 188?
Velasquez had last fought at UFC 166 in October 2013, a dominant TKO5 of Junior dos Santos. UFC 188 was his first fight in approximately 20 months — the longest inactive period for any active UFC HW Champion.
Who were the notable fighters on the UFC 188 undercard?
Eddie Alvarez defeated Gilbert Melendez by split decision in the co-main. Kelvin Gastelum defeated Nate Marquardt. Yair Rodriguez won by split decision. Henry Cejudo (2008 Olympic wrestling gold medalist) won by UD at flyweight. Patrick Williams set the fastest BW submission record (0:23 guillotine).
References
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