UFC 188 Free Pick & Prediction: Cain Velasquez vs. Fabricio Werdum

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Velasquez vs. Werdum Free Pick

MEXICO CITY (The Spread) – The UFC Heavyweight Title is up for grabs at UFC 188 tonight as Cain Velasquez takes on Fabricio Werdum. Which one will emerge with the gold?

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Velasquez (13-1) is the champion and has been since December of 2012. He has won his last four fights, but has not competed since October of 2013 due to multiple injuries. Werdum (19-5-1) has won his last five fights and has competed twice since Velasquez stepped into the octagon.

The latest odds according to oddsmakers at GTBets have Velasquez as a -500 favorite to retain his championship, while Werdum has been given a money line of +350 to prevail. This fight is the main event of UFC 188 tonight at 10PM ET live on PPV. UFC 188 takes place from Mexico City Arena in Mexico City, Mexico.

The big question in regard to this fight is if Velasquez will be able to fight his usual style and pace, or if the injuries and layoffs will keep him from having that same ability. Werdum has improved greatly over the last few years in his striking and will have the edge in reach and power over Cain. Werdum is also a jiu-jitsu black belt on the ground, so Velasquez may not have the same control if he scores takedowns. However, the issue with the challenger is his conditioning. If Velasquez is his usual self, his pace will likely be more than what Werdum can handle. Look for Cain to be his usual self and tire Werdum out, scoring a dominant five-round decision.

UFC 188 FREE PICK: Cain Velasquez -500

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