UFC 188 came up empty on finishes in the opening three fights on the preliminary card, but then it ramped up with two staggeringly quick submission wins that lasted not even 80 seconds combined. Then the feature prelim between Henry Cejudo and Chico Camus ended the brief streak of finishes, but intrigued in a different way because of how surprisingly competitive it was.
Johnny Case (21-4 MMA, 3-0 UFC) def. Frank Trevino (12-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) – Lightweights
Case had his way on the feet with Trevino, who was uh … literally skipping about in the cage in the first 45 seconds. Trevino poked Case hard in his left eye to the point where Johnny screamed. Somehow, the fight continued even though Case couldn’t see The highlight of round 2 was Case getting a takedown and then back mount with both hooks in, working on a rear-naked choke. He lost control and failed on a guillotine and an omoplata, which led to Trevino getting back on top before getting back to his feet. and immediately went to the ground. Case went for mount but lost it and was reversed. He then used a butterfly sweep to return to top position. Trevino threatened with a weak armbar attempt. Trevino still couldn’t land anything of significance in the 3rd round and was taken down and Case went for a mounted triangle but Trevino escaped out of the back door and returned to standing. He did hit Case with a knee to the thigh. That meant something I guess.
Patrick Williams (8-4 MMA, 1-1 UFC) def. Alejandro Perez (15-6 MMA, 1-1 UFC) via technical submission (standing guillotine choke) at :23 of round 1 – Bantamweights
Williams landed an uppercut and a right hand to drop Perez. Then he attacked the neck and squeezed the life out of Perez until he was limp against the cage. That was literally the entire fight. A 21 second win for Williams over the TUF Latin America winner.
Efrain Escudero (24-9 MMA, 5-5 UFC) def. Drew Dober (15-7, 1 NC MMA; 1-3, 1 NC UFC) via submission (standing guillotine choke) at :53 of round 1 – Lightweights
Dober slipped while throwing a kick, got back to his feet, and paid the price dearly. Escudero grabbed a hold of his neck before he stood back up and then never let go. Escudero forced the tap from Dober in just under a minute to get his second straight UFC win and leave Dober with just 1 win in his last 5.
Henry Cejudo (9-0 MMA, 3-0 UFC) def. Chico Camus (14-6, 1 NC MMA; 3-3, 1 NC UFC via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27, 30-27) – Flyweights
Camus had the early advantage both boxing and in his defensive wrestling. Cejudo, a 2008 Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling, went 0-8 in takedown attempts through 2 rounds. While Camus likely won the 1st on his stand-up and takedown defense, Cejudo’s boxing was just slightly more effective in the 2nd round. Cejudo increased his output in the final round and caught Camus in some short exchanges but didn’t land any particularly damaging blows. Camus’ offense waned until he turned the urgency up in the last minute and struck Henry with a right hand and a body kick. A late single-leg attempt was stopped by Camus but he stumbled and rolled to his back and Cejudo pounced, threw a few strikes and they returned to standing to close out the 3rd. Far from a title shot worthy performance from Cejudo, and a noble effort by heavy underdog Chico Camus in defeat. Cejudo failed to land a single takedown against the Roufusport product.
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