UFC 188 Prelims: Unbeaten Flyweight Contender Henry Cejudo Gets Past Chico Camus

Henry Cejudo passed his sternest test yet.

Active hands and an effective clinch game spurred the undefeated Olympic gold medalist to a unanimous decision over Chico Camus at UFC 188 “Velasquez vs. Werdum” on Saturday at Mexico City Arena in Mexico City. Cejudo (9-0, 3-0 UFC) drew 29-28, 30-27 and 30-27 nods from the judges, as he continued his climb on the Ultimate Fighting Championship flyweight ladder.

Camus (14-6, 3-3 UFC) enjoyed success with his hands, especially early, but failed to maintain a safe distance between himself and the Los Angeles native. Cejudo fought well in close quarters, scoring with foot stomps, knees to the thighs and body and punches and elbows off the break. Camus’ output dwindled down the stretch, and Cejudo sealed it with a takedown in the final 30 seconds.

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Escudero Guillotine Submits Dober

MMA Lab rep Efrain Escudero submitted Drew Dober with a first-round standing guillotine choke in an undercard tilt at 155 pounds. Dober (15-7, 1-3 UFC) tapped 54 seconds into round one.

Escudero (24-9, 5-5 UFC) took advantage of a mistake, as the Nebraskan slipped on attempted head kick. “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 8 winner caught the guillotine when Dober tried to return to his feet, pushed him towards the cage and tightened his squeeze. After an extended struggle, the choke netted Escudero the desired result.

The 29-year-old Escudero has won six of his last eight bouts.

Williams Chokes Perez Unconscious

Patrick Williams choked “The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America” winner Alejandro Perez unconscious with a first-round guillotine in a preliminary bantamweight pairing. The lights went out on Perez (15-6, 1-1 UFC) just 23 seconds into round one, the fastest submission in the history of the UFC’s 135-pound division.

Williams (7-5, 0-2 UFC) dropped the 25-year-old with a right uppercut and overhand right, then immediately snatched the guillotine. He adjusted his grip in a standing position and waited for Perez to go limp, leaving his lifeless body slumped against the cage. Williams has posted five wins across his past seven outings.

Case Wins 11th Straight

Alliance MMA’s Johnny Case extended his winning streak to 11 fights, as he earned a unanimous decision against the previously unbeaten Francisco Trevino in a three-round undercard affair at 155 pounds. Case (21-4, 3-0 UFC) earned 30-27 scores across the board.

Trevino (12-1, 1-1 UFC) had no answer for his well-rounded opponent. Case mixed his punching combinations with kicks to the legs and body, forcing the Legacy Fighting Championship alum to resort to taunting. An eye poke left Case with significant damage and led to a change in his approach. Upon the restart, he turned to his takedowns and top game, passing guard, scoring with ground-and-pound and threatening with submissions. Trevino sprang a few reversals but lacked the knowhow to capitalize on them, and more often than not, he wound up in disadvantageous positions.

Pendred Outpoints Timid Montano

Repeated takedowns and a commitment to the clinch carried SBG Ireland representative Cathal Pendred to a unanimous verdict over Augusto Montano in a preliminary welterweight clash. All three cageside judges scored it the same: 29-28 for Pendred (17-2-1, 4-0 UFC).

Montano (15-2, 1-1 UFC) spent almost the entire first round circling incessantly on the perimeter, drawing taunts from the Irishman and a warning for timidity from referee Herb Dean. Pendred brought takedowns into play in the second round, grounding the Mexican favorite over and over again. Round three resulted in more posturing from the two welterweights, as Pendred pursued Montano around the cage, much to the chagrin of those in attendance. Boos rang out across the arena.

The 27-year-old Pendred has rattled off eight straight wins.

Surging Benitez Downs Collard

American Kickboxing Academy export Gabriel Benitez recorded his fourth straight win, as he took a unanimous decision from Clay Collard in an undercard scrap at 145 pounds. Benitez (18-4, 2-0 UFC) swept the scorecards with identical 30-27 marks.

Collard (14-6, 1-2 UFC) had a rough night, outside of a few takedowns and a first-round grappling exchange in which he executed a belly-to-back suplex and made his way to “The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America” graduate’s back. Benitez targeted the American’s body and legs with vicious kicks, causing visible damage to his lower extremities and midsection. Twice Collard doubled over in pain after absorbing shin-to-rib contact, his situation growing grimmer with each passing moment.