In 2008, Fabricio Werdum was unceremoniously released from the UFC following a shocking TKO upset loss to then debuting heavyweight Junior Dos Santos. Heading into that fight there was talks that Werdum was not only close to a title shot but was also attempting to get more money from the UFC as well. Fans were stunned when it was reported that Werdum was released after a 2-2 run in the promotion. Adding to the confusion, Werdum initially denied that he was released from the promotion as he was not contacted directly from UFC brass.
At UFC 143 on Saturday, February 4th, Fabricio Werdum will make his long awaited return to the octagon. Matthew Roth of Bloody Elbow had a chance to catch up with the former ADCC champion to get his thoughts on the fight with Roy Nelson as well as the incredible win over Fedor Emelianenko in Strikeforce.
Regarding his return, he said "It feels good. I am very happy because this is my goal. I have campaigned on twitter. I have campaigned on Facebook. I put it on my mind that I wanted to return to the UFC." He added, "I didn't like my last fight in the UFC. It was the first knockout of my life -- of my career. But things have changed now. I'm more professional now. I'm training everyday. This time my body and my mind are good."
Werdum also spoke about his win over Fedor Emelianenko and how it compares to his wins at the ADCC in both 2007 and 2009. He stated "the only thing that could compare to my feeling I had when I beat Fedor is the day that my daughter was born. There is no other competition that could compare to that victory. The victory over Fedor is very special to me."
Fabricio Werdum faces Roy Nelson in the co-main event of the evening. UFC President Dana White was unable to commit to the winner of this fight being in line for a title shot but with the state of the heavyweight division, it is likely that the victor will be on the fast track.
0 recs | 26 comments
meanwhile in other news
Water is wet and the sky is blue, that is all.
TillaDaDrilla - February 3, 2012 via iPhone app
meanwhile in other news
Posting is a privilege and not a right. Don’t be an asshole if you don’t have anything to contribute. This is your only warning.
Matthew Roth - February 3, 2012
seriously?
My comment meant that it was just an obvious statement from him, of course it’s his biggest win who else would be. Maybe you shouldn’t be so sensitive, and calling someone an asshole doesn’t scream professionalism dickhead, get a clue
TillaDaDrilla - February 3, 2012 via iPhone app
And there's Rule 4!
Matthew Roth - February 3, 2012
you took that a bit to heart there! are you having a bad day wee man?
CDSmid - February 3, 2012
Wow.
Can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m hereby done with Bloody Elbow. This site is a shadow of its former self, it’s apparently run by old ladies who tolerate no disagreement and can handle absolutely no criticism (even if it’s tame as shit), and Randy Couture’s a closet homosexual. I dunno, what other rules can i violate in order to get banned in solidarity?
Peace guys. It’s been fun while it lasted.
chasethegoose - February 4, 2012
gxc - February 3, 2012
merryprankster - February 3, 2012
In other news overreaction has become the Internet word of the day. Thanks to Webster for the update
Back to you Jim.
Thanks Jean-Luc; today on the Klingon homeword of Quronos Shakespeare is still all the rage….
dandeman - February 3, 2012
Hey the website messed with my post Darn pumpernickle. Curse you internet Gremlins.
dandeman - February 3, 2012
He's not attacking you
he’s just saying that it’s a fairly obvious thing for Werdum to state
Shaun32887 - February 3, 2012
who do you think you are? acting like Rampage here
the guy did nothing wrong. posting is privilege. what are you a BE preacher??? get a clue.
I didn’t cuss. so if you ban me for this, you know who you are. TillaDaDrilla said it.
Nodir Shermatov - February 3, 2012
really?
if your article is blatantly obvious, others are going to tell you so. welcome to the internet, why dont you stay a while?
justsomehawkeyefan - February 3, 2012
cause unlike you
I got tons of stuff to do in real life, you internet philosopher.
Nodir Shermatov - February 3, 2012
apparently not, since your on right now during what most consider work hours in the USA.
and what do you care anyway? its not like i was even posting to anything you said. and i wasnt attacking anyone anyway so i have no idea why you would want to post anything to me except to instigate a fight.
justsomehawkeyefan - February 3, 2012
sorry my bad. it's 6:45 am in Japan
and I’m writing my reports that I gotta submit on monday. I just got overly angry at these dude banning people, threatening and preaching. maybe too much coffee. anyways, I hope peace.
Nodir Shermatov - February 3, 2012
Yup, and the best way to get it is with a knife.
Sugel Mendoza - February 3, 2012
Now I understand what everyone at mania is talking about.
djganesh - February 3, 2012
I would say that's a no-brainer.
Obviously his ADCC titles are special to him, but that’s his game. He’s clearly one of the best BJJ guys in the world. The same can’t be said for him in MMA (where he’s good but not great, & not as well-rounded). Plus, it was a monumental victory over someone with a huge name who was riding a ridiculous win streak. In the Fedor fight, he beat the biggest name he’d faced in what has to be the more difficult sport for him.
The Hamburger Pimp - February 3, 2012 via mobile
dude should be proud of tapping fedor
and im a fedor fan boy!
gxc - February 3, 2012
hopefully he isn't content though
Beating Fedor was obviously a huge accomplishment but then he followed that up with whatever the Reem fight was.
He could easily be seeing Reem again by the end of the year.
merryprankster - February 3, 2012
maybe..i think he would have to fight once more before that
carwin..mir..cain will be next for him if he wins i bet
gxc - February 3, 2012
agreed
if he happens to finish early or take minimal damage a Mir fight in early summer/late spring would be awesome.
Carwin and Cain should fight when they’re healthy and maybe take on the Barnett/Cormier winner…whenever those two fight.
merryprankster - February 3, 2012
i also agree
man joe silva has such a mint job haha
gxc - February 3, 2012
I would think that after their last fight was such a stinker nobody would be pushing for Overeem/Werdum 3
MS_Dos_Santos - February 3, 2012
War WerDOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
chillnnsht - February 3, 2012
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