Mexico City plays host to UFC 188 Saturday night in an event that’s been generating very little buzz compared to last month’s UFC 187 and next month’s UFC 189.
Along with a heavyweight title unification matchup in the main event, this card also features a number of standout fighters including Gilbert Melendez, Kelvin Gastelum and Henry Cejudo.
Here are five storylines to watch for at UFC 188:
There Can Only Be One
Cain Velasquez returns to the cage as he looks to unify the heavyweight title against interim champion Fabricio Werdum. These two were supposed to clash last November at UFC 180, but Velasquez had to bow out due to injury. Instead, Werdum faced late replacement Mark Hunt and won by second-round TKO to earn the interim belt.
Velasquez hasn’t competed inside the cage since an October 2013 victory over Junior Dos Santos at UFC 166. The 32-year-old AKA product has been plagued by injuries but many pundits believe we’ll see the same dominant fighter that’s gone 13-1 throughout his career. Werdum has looked sensational since his return to the UFC in 2012, going a perfect 5-0 including wins over Roy Nelson, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Travis Browne. The odds currently have Velasquez as a 4-to-1 favourite, but don’t be surprised if the Brazilian gives the American his toughest test yet.
Strikeforce vs. Bellator
The co-main event pits Gilbert Melendez against Eddie Alvarez in a highly anticipated bout for hardcore fans. Back when Melendez was the Strikeforce lightweight champion in 2010 there was talk of him competing in a superfight against then Bellator lightweight champion Alvarez. The two sides couldn’t reach an agreement, but nearly five years later we’ll finally see the matchup come to fruition. Melendez is coming off a submission loss to Anthony Pettis in his last bout at UFC 181 in December where he was finished for the first time in his career. Alvarez, meanwhile, hasn’t competed since September where he lost a unanimous decision to Donald Cerrone at UFC 178.
It’s no secret these two will look to stand and trade as they have a combined 25 career knockout wins through 55 fights. While physically these fighters are nearly identical, Alvarez has been far less active in the cage competing just four times in the last three years. A finish may come in this bout, but it’s more likely these two trade fists for the entire three-round affair.
Gunning for “Mighty Mouse”
Former Olympic gold medallist Henry Cejudo looks to keep his unblemished record intact when he meets Chico Camus in the main event of the UFC 188 prelims. With the 28-year-old seemingly having his weight cutting issues under control, he remains one of the few bright spots in the UFC’s unappreciated flyweight division. Along with his Olympic credentials, the Arizona native also has the type of personality that would make for an ideal title challenger to champion Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson. His opponent, Camus, has always proven to be a gamer, but is just 2-2 with one no contest in his last five bouts. However, Camus has been known to pull off the upset before, as in his last bout he won a split decision over Brad Pickett. It’s no secret this is Cejudo’s fight to lose and if he can emerge victorious we may have a new name in the flyweight title picture.
Aiming for Redemption
A pair of middleweights turned welterweights turned middleweights again meet as TUF 17 winner Kelvin Gastelum battles former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nate Marquardt. Gastelum (10-1) was forced back up to the 185-pound division by the UFC for missing weight twice in his last three bouts. He’s coming off a unanimous decision loss in his last bout to Tyron Woodley at UFC 183 in January but prior to that defeat had won 10 straight.
Marquardt has been plagued by inconsistency since returning to the UFC in 2013, going 1-4, including his last fight where he lost by unanimous decision to Brad Tavares at UFC 182. Marquardt will have the edge in experience – having 49 pro bouts under his belt compared to Gastelum’s 11 – but he’s also been knocked out in two of his last four bouts. Regardless, expect both fighters to come out with a sense of urgency as they look to get back on the winning track.
Featherweight Forecast
Two of the featherweight division’s brightest stars clash, as TUF Latin America winner Yair Rodriguez meets ATT standout Charles Rosa. Rodriguez defeated Leonardo Morales at UFC 180 to win the TUF Latin America tournament and is one of the youngest fighters on the UFC roster at just 22 years of age. Rosa lost his UFC debut last October in a short notice fight against Denis Siver by unanimous decision. He bounced back this January with a third-round submission victory over Sean Soriano at UFC Fight Night 59. It’s no secret Rosa will undoubtedly look to get this fight to the mat, where he’s won seven of his 10 bouts by submission. With an impressive 10-1 record, should Rosa stop the Mexican fighter, he could earn himself a Top 15 opponent in his next bout.
Here’s the full UFC 188 lineup:
MAIN CARD
— Cain Velasquez (13-1) vs. Fabricio Werdum (19-5-1)
— Eddie Alvarez (25-4) vs. Gilbert Melendez (22-4)
— Nate Marquardt (33-14-2) vs. Kelvin Gastelum (10-1)
— Tecia Torres (5-0) vs. Angela Hill (2-0)
— Charles Rosa (10-1) vs. Yair Rodriguez (4-1)
PRELIMINARY CARD
— Henry Cejudo (8-0) vs. Chico Camus (14-5)
— Drew Dober (15-6) vs. Efrain Escudero (23-9)
— Cathal Pendred (16-2-1) vs. Augusto Montano (15-1)
— Alejandro Perez (15-5) vs. Patrick Williams (7-4)
— Johnny Case (20-4) vs. Francisco Trevino (12-0)
— Gabriel Benitez (17-4) vs. Clay Collard (14-5)
— Albert Tumenov (15-2) vs. Andrew Todhunter (7-0)