Dos boricuas victoriosos y un campeón indiscutible el saldo del UFC 188 en México

UFC 188: Velásquez vs Werdum

Por Daniel “Mr. Clutch” Mercado Castro

          Dos boricuas victoriosos y un nuevo campeón indiscutible fue el saldo del UFC 188 en la Arena Ciudad de México ante más de 21 mil fanáticos que abarrotaron el mismo. A pesar de que el evento debió ser para el deleite total de los mexicanos, fueron dos boricuas y un brasileño quienes se robaron el show. En la pelea estelar y para definir el campeón indiscutible de los pesos pesados, Fabricio Werdum (20-5-1) sorprendió al mexicano Caín Velásquez (13-2) con una guillotina en a los 2:13 del tercer round para apuntarse el triunfo vía sumisión. La pelea de estos dos gladiadores fue una de palo a palo donde la sangre corrió, pero el más inteligente ganó. Werdum convirtió un intento de takedown de Velásquez en la sumisión que le dio la victoria. Werdum le dio el crédito a los 34 días que estuvo en México antes de la pelea para aclimatarse. Velásquez solo estuvo dos semanas antes y tal vez esa sea la razón de su primera derrota desde noviembre del 2011. Ahora Werdum es el campeón indiscutible de los pesados y tiene una racha de seis victorias mientras que Velásquez no le quedo de otra que decir después de la pelea; “Perdón a todos ustedes”.

          El boricua Eddie Álvarez (26-4) sobrevivió una dura batalla ante Gilbert “El Niño” Meléndez (22-5) para llevarse la victoria vía decisión dividida (29-28, 28-29 y 29-28). Esta fue una de las mejores peleas de la noche y una oportunidad grande para el boricua de acercarse a una oportunidad titular en la división de los pesos ligeros de UFC. Fue una pelea a palo limpio durante los tres asaltos donde el boricua pudo sobreponerse a una cortadura en su ojo izquierdo producto de un codazo de Gilbert en el primer asalto. La boricua Tecia Torres (6-0) dio otro paso agigantado en ruta a una pelea titula en el Strawweight al vencer por decisión unánime (30-27, 30-27 y 29-28) a la peligrosa Angela Hill (2-1). Tecia dominó con buen striking y sólida defensa a la poderosa Angela para mantener su invicto. Ahora la boricua, quien estaba #5 en la división, espera una oportunidad titular.

          En lo que fue la Pelea de la Noche, el mexicano Yair Rodriguez (5-1) derrotó vía decisión dividida (28-29, 29-28 y 28-29) a Charles Rosa (10-2. La pelea estuvo tan buena que sin duda se ganó el bono de los $50 mil dólares. La misma cantidad de bono se llevó Fabricio Werdum y Patrick Williams por el Performance of the Night. Williams rindió en solo 23 segundos a su contrario Alejandro Pérez con una guillotina. Esta es la rendición más rápida en la historia en la división Bantamweight. En otra pelea del Main Card, el egresado de The Ultimate Fighter: Team Jones vs Team Sonnen, Kelvin Gastelum (11-1) se apuntó otro impresionante triunfo en su carrera en UFC al vencer vía TKO al veterano Nate Marquardt (36-15-2) al este no salir para el tercer round. Desconozco porque el árbitro no paró la pelea en el segundo asalto cuando Gastelum literalmente noqueo a Nate y lo remato con una ráfaga de golpes que apenas fueron evitados. La esquina del veterano decidió parar la pelea antes de empezar el tercero. Los rodillazos de Gastelum fueron devastadores.

MMA en Directo-Notas recientes de la UFC

UFC^® KICKS OFF TICKET SALES FOR UFC^® 188

WITH MEDIA DAY IN MEXICO CITY

 

Heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez collides with interim heavyweight  champion Fabricio Werdum in the five-round main event on June 13

Plus:

Gilbert Melendez vs. Eddie Alvarez

Dodger Montaño vs. Cathal Pendred

Yair Rodriguez vs. Charles Rosa

Tecia Torres vs. Angela Hill

Tickets for UFC^® 188: VELASQUEZ vs. WERDUM

at Arena Ciudad de México in Mexico City

on sale Friday, March 20

 

Mexico City – After a successful inaugural event sell-out in November 2014, the UFC^® heads back to Mexico today to kickoff ticket sales for UFC^® 188: VELASQUEZ vs. WERDUM. The highly anticipated rematich is slated for Saturday, June 13 at the Arena Ciudad de México in Mexico City and will finally determine the true heavyweight champion of the world.  

 

Cain Velasquez, Fabricio Werdum, Gilbert Melendez, Eddie Alvarez, Augusto Montaño, Cathal Pendred, Yair Rodriguez, Charles Rosa, Tecia Torres and Angela Hill were present at the media day, which took place today at the Four Seasons in Mexico City.

 

Headlining the June card is the highly anticipated five-round main event featuring UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez (13-1, fighting out of San Jose, Calif.), and interim heavyweight  champion Fabricio Werdum (19-5-1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Calif. by way of Porto Alegre, Brazil). The heavyweight clash marks the culmination of a rivalry that developed as coaches opposite each other on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter^® Latin America. Originally slated to clash at last year’s November event, Cain was removed from UFC^® 180 in Mexico City due to injury.

 

In addition, fourth-ranked Gilbert “El Niño” Melendez (22-4, fighting out San Francisco, CA by way of Santa Ana, Calif.) goes up against no.10 Eddie Alvarez (25-4, fighting out of Boca Raton, Fla.) in a lightweight showdown. Melendez, a former Strikeforce and WEC lightweight champion, will bring his black belt jiu-jitsu skills to the Octagon^® against the freestyle striker Alvarez. 

 

Other bouts for UFC^® 188 include:

- Augusto “Dodger” Montaño (14-1, fighting out of Mexico City, Mexico) and Cathal Pendred (16-3, fighting out of Dublin, Ireland) will collide in a welterweight battle

- The Ultimate Fighter^® Latin America winner, Yair “Pantera” Rodriguez (5-1, fighting out of Chicago, Ill. by way of Parral, Chihuahua, Mexico) will meet Charles “Boston Strong” Rosa (10-1, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.) in a featherweight bout

- The Ultimate Fighter^® 20 participant Tecia “Tiny Tornado” Torres (5-1, fighting out of Coconut Creek, Fla.) with fight her reality star counterpart Angela “Overkill” Hill (2-0, fighting out of Asheville, N.C.) in a fight with serious implication for the women’s strawweight division

 

Tickets for UFC^® 188: VELASQUEZ vs. WERDUM go on sale Friday, March 20 and are priced at $7,490 zone Cancha, $4,815 zone Retractil Platino, $3,157 zone Superpalco (Club), $3,157 zone Retractil Oro, $2,408 zone Platea Platino, $1,873 zone Platea Oro, $1,391 zone Barrera, $1,043 zone Butaca, $910 zone Butaca 2, $650 zone Balcon, $482 zone Balcon 2, $375 zone Balcon 3  (prices listed in Mexican pesos and include taxes). Tickets are available for purchase online at www.superboletos.com, by phone at +52 (55) 15154100. Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. Ticket prices do not include applicable service charges.

 

UFC^® 188: VELASQUEZ vs. WERDUM will be available live on Pay-Per-View at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT on UFC.TV, iN DEMAND, DirecTV, DISH Network, Vubiquity, and in Canada on BellTV, Shaw Communications, Sasktel and Viewer’s Choice Canada for a suggested retail price of $49.99 US/CAN for Standard Definition and $59.99 US/CAN for High -Definition.

 

Get your VIP package today! The UFC VIP Experience packages together your tickets with behind-the-scenes access to the official weigh-ins, backstage tours, meet and greet and autograph signings with top UFC stars, Q&A sessions, and photo opportunities, access to an in-arena VIP party room, a chance to hold the championship belt inside the Octagon^® and more!

 

For more information or current fight news, visit www.ufc.com. All bouts are live and subject to change.

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UFC^® APPLAUDS ANTI-PIRACY CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION

City of London Police Execute Warrant Against Suspect

Las Vegas - UFC^® today announced it is cooperating with law enforcement officials from the City of London Police and its Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) regarding an investigation into the illegal distribution of UFC programming.

On March 18, the PIPCU executed a warrant to search and seize computers and property suspected of being used for criminal activity. A 55-year-old suspect, believed to be one of the internet’s biggest illegal uploaders of mixed martial arts and wrestling content, was arrested and remanded into police custody following the execution of the search warrant for his alleged involvement into the illegal distribution of protected content. Authorities estimate the suspect’s operation may have shared files that led to more than 2 million downloads. The suspect has been taken in for questioning as part of the ongoing investigation.

In the course of the search of the suspect’s residence in Coalville, Leicestershire, PIPCU uncovered computers, electronic equipment, and other evidence to assist in determining the extent of the unlawful activity and the potential damages incurred as a result of these crimes.

UFC has assisted local law enforcement authorities around the world in identifying potential infringers of intellectual property laws relating to the illegal distribution of copyrighted broadcasts. The UFC is committed to providing any assistance to PIPCU’s investigation into the illegal distribution of the company’s content and will make records and documents available to investigators.

“The UFC organization hopes this investigation and arrest by PIPCU will result in a significant decrease in the illegal online distribution of our intellectual property and broadcasts,” UFC Chief Legal Officer Kirk Hendrick said. “We take online piracy very seriously and will continue to work with law enforcement officials around the world to prevent illegal sharing of UFC content.”