MEXICO CITY (USA Today/MMA Junkie) – In a back-and-forth fight that threatened to end at any moment, UFC interim heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum spoiled Cain Velasquez’s homecoming and unified the title.
Werdum (20-5-1 MMA, 8-2 UFC) went toe-to-toe with Velasquez (13-2 MMA, 11-2 UFC) over three rounds and hurt him enough to draw an exhausted takedown attempt, which he promptly capitalized on with a guillotine choke that forced a tap at the 2:13 mark of the frame.
“I had a good strategy,” Werdum said afterward. “I had a big dream, and I got it today.”
The heavyweight title unification bout was the main event of today’s UFC 188 event at Mexico City Arena in Mexico City. It aired on pay-per-view following prelims on FX and UFC Fight Pass.
Werdum, No. 3 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA heavyweight rankings, took the Mexican-American Velasquez’s best shots and countered with his own, frequently staggering with champ with his right hand in a fight where elevation was a third opponent throughout the card.
“I was here for 34 days (before the fight card),” said Werdum, who acted as his own translator after giving answers in Spanish.
At 7,382 feet above sea level, both men showed signs of fatigue as the frantic pace of the fight extended into the second and third rounds. Velasquez, who hadn’t fought since winning a October 2013 trilogy bout with now-former champ Junior dos Santos, appeared to be severely affected by the altitude.
“For two weeks, I was out here training,” Velasquez, No. 5 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA pound-for-pound rankings and No. 1 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA heavyweight rankings, said afterward. “I guess it wasn’t enough.”
Still, Velasquez kept his characteristically intense pace, hoping to take Werdum’s legs from him with persistent kicks. Werdum, meanwhile, worked a jab and worked hard to answer every attack.
When Velasquez knocked Werdum foe down early, he declined an extended engagement on the ground, fearing his Brazilian opponent’s dangerous submission game. Instead, Velasquez worked steady one-two combinations and overhand rights, pressuring his opponent to the fence. Every time, Werdum fought off the cage and caught the champ with his own combinations.
A knee at the end of the second round sent Velasquez wobbling back to his corner. A cut over his left eye bled generously.
Advised by his corner to take the fight to the ground, Velasquez put Werdum on the mat in the third. But again shying away from grappling with his opponent, a former jiu-jitsu world champion who once famously submitted PRIDE champ Fedor Emelianenko, he gave enough space for a standup.
Werdum then shrugged off a high kick and turned up the pressure on Velasquez, backing him to the cage with a flurry of punches. When Velasquez shot for a takedown, it came more from desperation than strategic thinking.
Velasquez immediately exposed his neck, allowing Werdum to execute a textbook guillotine that left no other option but submission.
“I train a lot, this movement,” Werdum said. “I trained a long time, and I know he was going to go for a takedown on my legs. I just waited for the right moment.”
Released seven years ago by the UFC on the heels of a knockout loss to dos Santos, Werdum completed a journey he began in 2012 after a lackluster loss to Alistair Overeem in a heavyweight tournament in the now-defunct Strikeforce. Frequently an underdog, he bucked expectations with a four-fight win streak that earned him a shot at the UFC heavyweight title.
After a stint as opposing coaches on “The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America,” Werdum and Velasquez were scheduled to meet this past November at UFC 180 in Mexico City. But Velasquez suffered a bad knee injury, and the UFC installed former K-1 champ Mark Hunt in an interim title bout. Again delivering a shocker, Werdum knocked out the knockout artist with a flying knee.
Despite his five-fight streak, Werdum was a 4-1 underdog coming into the UFC 188. Velasquez, meanwhile, received a hero’s welcome in his first fight on Mexican soil.
“I’m sorry to everyone here,” said Velasquez. “My dream was to fight here and win in front of everyone. I didn’t do it tonight, and I’m sorry. I can’t ask for more motivation for me to keep on getting better, come back, and win that belt back again.”
Before UFC 180 and UFC 188, Werdum did his best to charm the Mexican fans by speaking Spanish at every turn. When he walked to the arena, however, he received a significant number of boos.
While he might not have completely won over the crowd tonight, Werdum’s heart and poise made a lot of headway. And it’s doubtful he’ll be the underdog for a while.
The Hustle Gang team of T.I., B.o.B, Spodee, Big Kuntry King, Yung Booke and Shad Da God revisit their Get Dough or Die 2 mixtape and drop an official music video for "I Don't Fuck With You." Grab it from Datpiff http://www.datpiff.com/Hustle-Gang-GDOD-2-mixtape.646564.html.
DJ Spinking releases an official music video for his song titled "Cash Rules" featuring Zack and the late Coke Boys rapper Chinx. Enjoy the visuals up top and let us know what you think in the comment section below.
Video vixenAllison Brownis takingTygaback to court asking a judge to force the rapper to pay the remaining half of a sexual assault settlement.
Brown originally sued Tyga, claiming she was humped by a guy in a rabbit suit, plied with alcohol and forced to appear naked while filming the "Make It Nasty" music video in 2011.
TMZ reports that the parties involved reached a settlement earlier this year calling for Tyga to cough up$50,000. Brown claims she's only been paid half of that amount and is seeking the remaining balance.
Wesley Pipes revealed to VladTV how he got his start in the adult industry after having limited job choices while on parole for a car jacking. The porn veteran explained that he started getting work after getting referred to Jim South's famed World Modeling Agency, and his career took off from there.
When asked about having trouble performing with women that he didn't find attractive, Wesley said that he's always "on" when the cameras start rolling. He then proved his point about his level of professionalism by admitting to sleeping with a 76-year-old woman.
OBH General Dark Lo speaks with Mikey T The Movie Star and remembers Coke Boys' Chinx Drugz and touches on meeting him one night and building a thorough relationship. Lo also touches on the harsh realities of all the streets. Look out for the upcoming Mixtape "The Goon & The Crook" Coming Soon for Free Download ..
Follow us on Twitter @OBHDarkLo @AssaultRifleAB @MTMovieStar @MelleFilms
MovieStarManagement@Gmail.com to Contact Mikey T The Movie Star for Visuals ..Music Videos , Interviews and more
Dirty O (@DirtyO42N) and HK the Lyrical (@RockytheLyrical) have known each other since childhood so when they linked for the new Music Video over Pusha T & Kendrick Lamar's "Nosetalgia" Instrumental they went to capture the Gritty nature the beat displays. Dirty O an HK the Lyrical bring life to the lyrics with this dark look into there world, Shot in Niagara Falls NY at and unknown location.
Rapper YG was injured in Los Angeles early Friday, June 12, after being shot three times in the hip.
TMZ reports that the shooting took place at Studio City around 1.45 a.m. YG, real name Keenon Daequan Ray Jackson, was rushed to the hospital. He's said to be "very uncooperative" with police.
The 25-year old is signed toYoung Jeezy'sCTE Worldimprint. In 2014 YG released his debut album,My Krazy Life, led by the hit single"My Nigga."
Rap insider/consultant/publicist Karen Civil tweeted that YG's injuries are "none-life threatening."
**UPDATE** June 13
YG is not cooperating with police investigating his shooting, but they may not need his help to track down his shooter.
TMZ reports that there were multiple surveillance cameras rolling in the area where the incident took place. Some may have been in a position to capture the shooting.
The LAPD are expected to request the footage and receive it within a couple of days.
TMZ also reports that a fight broke out just prior to gunfire erupting. YG was hit three times in the hip. He is expected to make a full recovery.
DJ Stevie J drops of the eighth installment of his Appreciation mixtape series. Features include Lil Wayne, Chedda Da Connect, Young Jeezy, French Montana, Future, Trey Songz, Fetty Wap, Fabolous and more.
Fabolous releases an official music video for "Awwright." This is a remix of Kendrick Lamar's song titled "Alright." Check out the visuals below and let us know what you think in the comment section below.
Lil Wayne drops off a couple of new tracks via Stevie J's Appreciation 8 mixtape. Check out Weezy's remix of Bankroll Fresh's "Hot Boy" and French Montana's "Off the Rip."
50 CentandG-Unitwill soon be stopping in cities across the globe on a world tour. One possible opening act isTroy Ave, if the Brooklyn, New York rapper accepts 50's invitation.
While lending his support to Troy's new album, Major Without A Label, via Instagram, the G-Unit mogul let the him know he had an open spot for him.
"Control your destiny, Troy is going to Grind and win Big because he's not afraid to be on his own," 50 wrote. "Support Independent artist, available on iTunes NOW! "@troyave every thing they are saying you don't have is something they know I got, and they hate me to. I'm going on world tour if your not busy. (#HATEREATADICK How you don't like someone trying to make it, and you trying to make it?)"
(Syracuse.com) An Upstate New York prison worker has officially been described as an accessory to the escape of two convicted killers, and more details about their relationship have emerged.
Clinton County District Attorney Andrew Wylie told the Plattsburgh Press-Republican on Thursday that Clinton Correctional Facility employee Joyce Mitchell"has been very cooperative since she was identified as an accessory to the escape."
Mitchell, 51, also known as "Tillie," was a supervisor in the Dannemora prison's tailoring department, where inmates Richard Matt and David Sweat worked. The Albany Times-Union reports she admitted smuggling in power tools for them to cut through steel walls and provided access to a cell phone.
Wylie told NBC News on Friday, however, that Mitchell did not provide power tools. The prosecutor said she did bring in contraband, but wouldn't specify what it was.
Mitchell is believed to have also agreed to drive a getaway car for the pair, but changed her mind at the last minute and was hospitalized with panic attacks.
A CNN source said Mitchell, who's married to another prison employee, told investigators that Matt, 48, made her feel "special." But she may have also had an affair with the younger Sweat, 34.
A state official said the State Department of Corrections received a complaint within the past year about a relationship between Mitchell and one of the two escapees. ABC sources said the man was Sweat, but the DOC's internal investigation didn't lead to any discipline for her.
According to the Times-Union, prison employees and correction officers are prohibited from having relationships with inmates or doing them favors, including contacting family members.
It's unclear what charges Mitchell may face, but Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Thursday: "Anyone who we find cooperated with the escape or facilitated the escape, that is a crime in and of itself and we will prosecute to the fullest extent of the law."
Authorities said they may have "contained" the criminals in the small North Country town of Cadyville, between Plattsburgh and Dannemora. WFFF-TV reports a bedding spot was found in the woods where they may have slept after bloodhounds picked up the pair's scent at a nearby gas station and Subway restaurant.
Matt is described as a white male, 6-feet tall, 210 pounds, with black hair and hazel eyes. He has tattoos on his back that say "Mexico Forever", a heart on his chest and left shoulder, and a Marine Corps insignia on his right shoulder.
Sweat is described as a white male, 5-feet, 11-inches tall, 165 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes. He has tattoos on his left bicep and his right fingers.
Both escapees are considered extremely dangerous. Sweat was serving a life sentence for shooting the sheriff's deputy 15 times in 2002. Matt was in prison for the kidnapping, murder and dismemberment of a man who had fired him from his job at a food warehouse.
The state has offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to the capture of both men. People with information can call 1-800-GIVE-TIP.
During his announcement that he was leaving Cash Money Records, Bow Wow promised there would be an abundance of new music coming our way. He gets things started with a song titled "All I Know."
Wild 'N Out is your home for freestyle comedy. Watch as Nick Cannon and an A-list celebrity lead a team of improv comedians in a battle to see who’s the best.