The UFC has revealed the first five bouts for the UFC 188 card, which takes place June 13 at Mexico City Arena in Mexico City, Mexico, and for today’s MMA Odds and Ends I’ll give my thoughts on the five announced fights. Cain Velasquez vs. Fabricio Werdum The main event is a five-round title fight between UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez and Fabricio Werdum. The line has been out for this fight for a long time, with Velasquez heavily favored at 5-to-1. I do think Velasquez is the better fighter, but at -500 I don’t see any value at all. At +400, there may very well be some value in Werdum as the underdog. Eddie Alvarez vs. Gilbert Melendez The co-main event is a lightweight matchup between Eddie Alvarez and Gilbert Melendez. This is a fight that fans have wanted to see for years and it’s finally happening and I can’t wait. Both fighters are always in action-packed scraps and I don’t expect anything different in this one. I’m expecting a war, and a possible Fight of the Year contender. I think you have to slightly lean towards Melendez based on his experience fighting a higher level of competition, but this is a very close fight and I could see it realistically going either way. Cathal Pendred vs. Augusto Montano A welterweight bout between Cathal Pendred and Augusto Montano is also set for this card, and I think this might be the fight where Pendred’s win streak finally comes to an end. There’s no doubt Pendred is a really tough fighter who knows how to get his hand raised, but Montano is a destroyer, and if he can work Pendred in the clinch I think he might be able to finish him with knees. The line should be close, but I lean Montano here. Tecia Torres vs. Angela Hill A women’s strawweight bout between Tecia Torres and Angela Hill should be a standup war, but I like Torres here to pick up the W. Hill is a solid striker but Torres is even better and she’s the better grappler, too. I’m not expecting a blowout just because of the nature of the women’s strawweight division, but I think Torres wins a decision here and I expect her to be heavily favored going into the fight. Charles Rosa vs. Yair Rodriguez A featherweight bout between Charles Rosa and Yair Rodriguez will also take place at this event. Rosa has been impressive in the UFC so far, going 1-1 with a competitive loss to Dennis Siver and a submission win over Sean Soriano, while for Rodriguez he won TUF Latin America with a decision win over Leonardo Morales at UFC 180. It’s weird matchmaking because I think Rosa is by far the better fighter, but why would the UFC want Rodriguez to lose? But I have to go with my head here and go with Rosa, and I think he probably even gets a stoppage in this one.
