Cain Velasquez (photo via UFC.com)

By FCF Staff

Cain Velasquez has long been admired for his cardio and conditioning, but after falling to Fabricio Werdum last night at UFC 188, some are wondering if the renowned heavyweight trained enough for the high altitude of Mexico City.

As always, Velasquez constantly advanced towards his opponent in Saturday’s headliner, but Werdum bloodied the now former champ with counter punches. Both men were visibly tired as round two came to an end, but Velasquez looked worse for wear. The decorated wrestler shot in on Werdum not long into round three, but the latter proceeded to apply a guillotine choke, from which there was no escape.

Werdum headed to Mexico over a month out from the fight, to help him acclimate and prepare for the high altitude of the region. Velasquez, on the other hand, stayed in San Jose until a couple of weeks out from the bout.

At the post fight press conference, here is was Velasquez had to say about his training camp location, as well as the final moments of the fight:

“I was here two weeks before the fight; maybe that wasn’t enough. Again, no excuses. Fabricio was the better guy tonight. He fought with great technique, very relaxed, so he was the better guy tonight.”

“We knew that he fought everywhere; we would have to do that. We’re not one sided any more. We go to the ground and we fight there. I was ready to do that you know? Going for that double leg, he caught my neck, I had my head way out on the outside, again that was my fault, so again, you live and you learn.”

The fight marked the first time Velasquez has competed since October, 2013, when he stopped Junior dos Santos. Werdum, meanwhile, fought Mark Hunt in Mexico City last November, and took out the feared slugged to become interim champ.