June Stories of the Month: Cain Unable

Sherdog.com StaffJun 30, 2015
Fabricio Werdum reached the heavyweight summit in Mexico City. | Photo: Dave Mandel/Sherdog.com



Fabricio Werdum can now take his place among the all-time greats.

Werdum submitted Cain Velasquez with a third-round guillotine choke and captured the undisputed Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight crown in the UFC 188 “Velasquez vs. Werdum” headliner on June 13 at Mexico City Arena in Mexico City. Velasquez conceded defeat 2:13 into round three.

Velasquez for the first time in his career appeared to run out of gas. He brought the fight to the Brazilian in the first round, where he attacked with punches in the clinch, leg kicks and a pair of takedowns. Werdum did not flinch, and he turned the tide in round two. There, he shredded Velasquez with punching combinations, a stinging jab and knees from the clinch. Accuracy and output were keys. Afterward, the American Kickboxing Academy ace returned to his corner with cuts above both eyes, his breathing labored.

A little less than midway through round three, Werdum snatched the guillotine on an attempted takedown, fell to his back and finished it. The two-time Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling World Championships gold medalist has won six fights in a row. At 37 years of age, Werdum now boasts submission victories over Velasquez, Fedor Emelianenko and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira.

The other stories of interest on Sherdog.com during the month of June:

* RIB ROAST

* OPINION: HIGH STAKES OF A NO-WIN SITUATION

* BIG-APPLE BLUES

* THE NOMINATIONS ARE IN

* FREAKSHOW WINDFALL

* OLD DOG, OLD TRICKS

* OFFENDERS BEWARE

* SHERDOG’S TOP 10: RISING STARS, 2015 FIRST EDITION

* STORIES FROM THE ROAD: Don Frye