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.
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.
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