There is something to be said about a guy who is not afraid of the takedown in the least and what it does to open up his striking. Werdum was so loose out there with his punches and he was able to kick and throw those awesome knees with no concern of being taken down by Cain. He knew Cain really didn't want to go for the takedown and if it did happen he was comfortable there.
You see so many fights where a striker is terrified of the takedown and all he can do is throw one or two guarded punches at a time. Not the case with Werdum tonight. 
What really stood out for me was that cain didnt even want to gnp from standing into werdums guard. That is a huge ststement about how feared Werdum's groundgame is.
His jab was on point last night
Yah. It's called MMA. It's great.
Lol jj broooooo 
Two-time ADCC HW champ. You're gonna need to outstrike him!
One of the reasons wrestlers are able to pick up striking so readily, they know their wrestling will prevent a takedown. A lot of BJJers had this philosophy but wrestlers were able to hold them down, avoid submissions and win a decision. Werdum's BJJ is so good that holding him down is too dangerous and that has allowed him to develop his striking.
What a fight.
JOESONDO - One of the reasons wrestlers are able to pick up striking so readily, they know their wrestling will prevent a takedown. A lot of BJJers had this philosophy but wrestlers were able to hold them down, avoid submissions and win a decision. Werdum's BJJ is so good that holding him down is too dangerous and that has allowed him to develop his striking.This exactly. Bottom game is a bad strategy in MMA most the time but when you are as good as Werdum on the ground you end up like the wrestlers that can stop the takedown and not worry about it.
thats definately part of it
TexDeuce -JOESONDO - One of the reasons wrestlers are able to pick up striking so readily, they know their wrestling will prevent a takedown. A lot of BJJers had this philosophy but wrestlers were able to hold them down, avoid submissions and win a decision. Werdum's BJJ is so good that holding him down is too dangerous and that has allowed him to develop his striking.This exactly. Bottom game is a bad strategy in MMA most the time but when you are as good as Werdum on the ground you end up like the wrestlers that can stop the takedown and not worry about it.
Unfortunately it's become a bad strategy because of brain dead judges most of the time. Muay Thai and good JJ especially off the back has always produced a great and exciting style and has always been my favorite combo because those guys are trying to end fights no matter where they go (Werdum, Cowboy, Condit, Miguel Torres in his prime etc...) But you can't sub everybody at this level and judges give the nod to guys who lay on people and do nothing instead of the guy who's almost subbing the other guy or has him all off balance with sweep attempts.
^^^ Hell Anderson fits in there too and I'm sure many more...
GongandDash - What really stood out for me was that cain didnt even want to gnp from standing into werdums guard. That is a huge ststement about how feared Werdum's groundgame is.
and then Werdum flipped his ass and Cain didn't want to stand on the feet with him.
Vai Cavalo is hard work in motion. he was a plodding unathletic BJJ guy and hard worked his way into GOAT contention.
For any of you BJJ guys out there - can you tell me why Werdum didn't go for a knee bar like Mir did over Brock when Cain's feet were right there for the taking, when he was standing over Werdum?
GROUNDnLB - For any of you BJJ guys out there - can you tell me why Werdum didn't go for a knee bar like Mir did over Brock when Cain's feet were right there for the taking, when he was standing over Werdum?I don't think werdum was a leg lock guy I could be wrong but it's preference. Not all bjj guys go for them. I do but I run into way more vetted guys who have really weak leg sub games. Not saying werdums one
GROUNDnLB - For any of you BJJ guys out there - can you tell me why Werdum didn't go for a knee bar like Mir did over Brock when Cain's feet were right there for the taking, when he was standing over Werdum?
he didn't want the crowd to throw shoes at him
The Power Double - Yah. It's called MMA. It's great.
Lol jj broooooo
This. Or like Alvarez said, you feel out all of an opponent's range for weaknesses - there are always numerous factors at play in each MMA match.
GROUNDnLB - For any of you BJJ guys out there - can you tell me why Werdum didn't go for a knee bar like Mir did over Brock when Cain's feet were right there for the taking, when he was standing over Werdum?
Like Caseharts said, he may not be a big leglock guy and dont forget, they can leave you out of position if you miss. Im sure Werdum would preferred to just lock him into a guard position or angle to sweep.