Former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum fought out his contract by demolishing returning former three-time light heavyweight title challenger Alexander Gustafsson on the main card of UFC on ESPN 14 on Saturday night. An emotional “Vai Cavalo,” who went 10-4 in the UFC starting in 2012, spoke at the post-fight press conference, and detailed what he wants next.
The emotion was because this is my last fight in the UFC, said Werdum. I had many years with the UFC. I don’t know how many I had with the UFC, like 10 years, 12 years. You know? I’m a working individual – on Spanish commentaries. I think almost all of my life was here. I love UFC for sure. I want to say thank you to the UFC for many things.
Werdum had previously said he was not re-signing with the UFC, but was not definitive at the press con, saying he had to discuss it with his manager, Dominance MMA founder Ali Abdelazziz.
I don’t say ‘no’ because I have to talk to Ali first, said the 42-year-old Werdum. Sometimes you lose the last fight in the UFC, and it’s like everything changes, you know? I don’t know if I’m staying in the UFC or not, or maybe with a different [promotion]. I won’t stop. One hundred percent I’m not stopping. I have a couple fights. I told you before, I’m very young. My mind is young.
Werdum was the man who broke MMA heavyweight G.O.A.T. Fedor Emelianenko’s unprecedented 27-fight win streak, that included wins over Big Nog (twice), Mark Coleman (twice), Kevin Randleman, Mirko Cro Cop, Mark Hunt, Matt Lindland, Tim Sylvia, and Andrei Arlovski. It would have in all likelihood have been a 32-fight win streak, had Fedor not run afoul of a RINGS rule that you couldn’t bleed in MMA; further, the cut was caused by an accidental elbow. Fedor’s streak is all the more extraordinary given that it took place in the heavyweight division, where anything can happen to the extent that no UFC heavyweight champion has successfully defended his title more than three times, and that was achieved only by current champ Stipe Miocic.
Out of boundless respect, Werdum would like to offer “The Last Emperor” a rematch, and he believes that fans would like to see it.
This is 100 percent, said Werdum. I want to fight with Fedor, 100 percent. I respect him a lot. I want to give this opportunity to him to fight with me again. This has history, Me vs. Fedor in 2010. Ten years later, everybody wants to see this fight. I don’t know where, but for sure I want to fight with Fedor because I respect him. In my mind, he is the best in the world.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeM_4Mmmbbc
h/t Nolan King and John Morgan for MMA Junkie
