Reminder: 'Countdown to UFC 188' and Velasquez-Werdum debuts tonight

As a reminder, the UFC’s traditional pre-event show returns tonight with the debut of “Countdown to UFC 188? on FOX Sports 1.

The one-hour special airs at 10 p.m. ET (7 p.m. PT), and replays air throughout the rest of the week. MMAjunkie will also have the show available for streaming on Monday.

UFC 188, which features a heavyweight title unification fight at the top of the bill, takes place Saturday at Mexico City Arena in Mexico City. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.

“Countdown to UFC 188? previews the night’s headliner, in which heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez (13-1 MMA, 11-1 UFC) and interim titleholder Fabricio Werdum (19-5-1 MMA, 7-2 UFC) meet to unify the belts.

In the co-feature, former Bellator champ Eddie Alvarez (25-4 MMA, 0-1 UFC) meets former Strikeforce champ and two-time UFC title challenger Gilbert Melendez (22-4 MMA, 1-2 UFC).

The full UFC 188 lineup includes:

MAIN CARD (Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET)

• Champ Cain Velasquez vs. interim champ Fabricio Werdum – heavyweight title-unification bout
• Eddie Alvarez vs. Gilbert Melendez
• Kelvin Gastelum vs. Nate Marquardt
• Yair Rodriguez vs. Charles Rosa
• Angela Hill vs. Tecia Torres

PRELIMINARY CARD (FX, 8 p.m. ET)

• Chico Camus vs. Henry Cejudo
• Drew Dober vs. Efrain Escudero
• Alejandro Perez vs. Patrick Williams
• Johnny Case vs. Francisco Trevino

PRELIMINARY CARD (UFC Fight Pass, 6:30 p.m. ET)

• Augusto Montano vs. Cathal Pendred
• Gabriel Benitez vs. Clay Collard
• Andrew Todhunter vs. Albert Tumenov

For complete coverage of UFC 188, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.