Werdum destroys Browne to earn title shot

Published on Sunday, 4/20/14, at 12:10 a.m. Eastern.

By Brian Edwards

Fabricio Werdum will face Cain Velasquez for the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s heavyweight belt in Mexico later this year. Werdum improved 6-2 in the Octagon by destroying Travis Browne in Saturday’s main event at Amway Center in Orlando.

The 36-year-old Brazilian captured a unanimous-decision (50-45 twice, 49-46) win as a +195 underdog (paid $195 on $100 wagers). BrianEdwardsSports.com scored it 49-46 for Werdum.

Most pundits, including this one, felt that Werdum’s best chance of beating Browne would be by taking the fight to the ground and getting a submission. However, Werdum got the best of nearly all the stand-up exchanges, scored several takedowns and thumped ‘Hapa’ handily.

Gamblers taking ‘over’ 2.5 rounds cashed an easy winner at a -210ish price.

In the co-main event, Miesha ‘Cupcake’ Tate won a unanimous decision (29-28 three times) over Liz Carmouche in a hotly-contested battle between former title challengers in the women’s bantamweight loop. BE Sports also had it 29-28 for Tate, who shook off a rough first round and had her way in the final two stanzas.

Miesha Tate beat Liz Carmouche in the co-main event at UFC on Fox 11 in Orlando.

Miesha Tate beat Liz Carmouche in the co-main event at UFC on Fox 11 in Orlando.

Tate worked for submissions in both the second and third rounds, and Carmouche showed incredible toughness in somehow getting out of a rear-naked choke. The victory was Tate’s first in the UFC after losing to Cat Zingano and champion Ronda Rousey.

Tate hooked up her backers as a -190 ‘chalk,’ while ‘over’ 2.5 rounds was a winner at an expensive price in the -280 range.

Edson Barboza was blistering Donald ‘Cowboy’Cerrone in the opening minutes of their 155-pound scrap. He was beating Cerrone to the punch and looked a lot quicker on his feet. However, Cerrone caught Barboza with a crisp left-handed jab that floored the Brazilian late in the first round. Cerrone swarmed Barboza, quickly taking his back and finishing the bout with a rear-naked choke.

A lot of late money came in on Barboza, who closed at around -160. The fight had been a pick ’em for most of the week. Cerrone backers brought home a +140 return (risk $100 to win $140).

Cerrone improved to 10-3 in the UFC and earned his 9th fight-night bonus (Performance of the Night). Barboza fell to 7-2 in nine Octagon appearances.

In the lid-lifter for the main card on FOX, Yoel Romero dominated Brad Tavares for 15 minutes en route to capturing a unanimous-decision (30-27 three times) victory as a +130 underdog. Late money came in on Tavares to prompt many books to move the number from -120 to -150 in favor of Tavares, who saw his five-fight winning streak snapped.

Other winners included Thiago Alves, Khabib Nurmagomedov and Jordan Mein.

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