Werdum aims to win title, fight 3-4 more times, then commentate
Fabrucio Werdum: “I think when I become a champion I will have 3 or 4 more fights and that’s it. I’m going to do my new career as a UFC commentator.”
The UG’s man on the ground in Chechenya, Boris Dealon, recently conducted an exclusive interview with UFC interim champion Fabricio Werdum.
Werdum, UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman, and former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir are special guests in Chechenya at the Groznaya Bitva international MMA event in the nation’s capital of Grozny.
Werdum, 37, who fights UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez UFC 188 on June 13, 2015 at Arena Ciudad de México in Mexico City, Mexico, talked about his opponent, the recent drug scandals in the sport, and plans for the future.
Boris Dealon: You’re fighting Cain Velasquez pretty soon. With what motivation you’re going on the one of the most important fight in your career?
Fabricio Werdum: My main motivation is I want to be the best in the world, I won an opportunity in my last fight and this is the biggest fight in my life, I want to beat him!
BD: Your opponent hasn’t been to the octagon since October of 2013. Is that going be your advantage against him?
FW: I think it’s a little advantage for me because he hasn’t fought in almost two years, he had a lot of injures but he has a lot of experience, he’s a great champion. I think it’s going to be a good fight.
BD: What are your plans for the future if you get the title?
FW: I think when I become a champion I will have 3 or 4 more fights and that’s it. I’m going to do my new career as a UFC commentator.
BD: Do you want to finish this fight earlier or you’re ready to go all 5 rounds with the champion?
FW: I definitely want to finish the fight earlier. When I have an opportunity I will try to finish him, knock him out.
BD: What qualities in your opinion should have a heavyweight to successfully fight on the highest level?
FW: Not to be lazy and keep training, keep working hard because big guys become lazy sometimes. My secret is I just always work hard.
BD: Now everybody has been talking about the scandal with drug tests that some top UFC fighters flunked . What do you think about that?
FW: I think that the sentence for failing drug tests should be the same for everybody. If they find TRT you have to pay for it.
BD: Say some words to your fans that can’t wait to see you come back to the Octagon.
FW: I promise you guys that my next fight June 13 is going to be the biggest fight ever.
Dealon also interviewed Weidman during the visit.
BD: In light of the tension with the drug test situation, there’s a very interesting question: how often do you get tested for banned substances and does it distract you from preparation?
CW: Moving forward with all PD test failures, I’ve been tested a lot more and I think it’s only good for the sport.
BD: What can you say about the whole bunch of flunked drug tests by top UFC fighters?
CW: It’s very discouraging that UFC fighters are failing drug tests, but I think that UFC is doing the right thing to stop that from happening and clean the sport.
BD: There’s a pretty long line for a title fight in the middleweight division that includes very strong opponents. Who of today’s opponents you consider the most dangerous?
CW: The only person I focus on now is Vitor Belfort, I don’t look back him.
BD: Say a few words to your fans that will be supporting you during your next fight.
CW: Any fans that support me, you all make sure you watch my fight against Vitor Belfort, I appreciate all the support!
About the author:
Boris Dealon is the founder of the popular Russian language Internet MMA portal MMAboxing.ru, a journalist, tournament organizer, and plans soon to extend his talents into fighter management.
