Werdum cites economic challenges for lack of Brazilian champs
“They don’t have titles because they come from a humble background. They have to work to support their family and they cannot focus on just training.”
Renzo Gracie argued last year that the lack of Gracies at the top of mixed martial arts was because the next generation was not as hungry.
“You give them a life of a superstar,” said Renzo. “They get what they want. They can do what they want. It’s different. When I started fighting I didn’t have shorts to use. I had to conquer. It’s a different level of commitment back there.”
When Gracie was 14 and working as a bouncer in a brothel, per capita GNP in Brazil was $2,080.00, adjusted for inflation. Today, it is over $11,000. So while many people don’t think of Brazil as being rich, things were a lot tougher when Renzo was coming up.
Jose Aldo is the sole Brazilian UFC champion now, in a sport born in Brazil. Former UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva argued recently that the lack of Brazilian champions was due to a lack of evolution.
“Brazilians forgot some things to focus more on other things,” said Silva. “We forgot the evolution. It’s important. I speak for myself. In my last two fights, I should have evolved more, but I didn’t follow this evolution.”
Now in an interview with Marc Raimondi for FOX Sports, #1 heavyweight contender Fabricio Werdum brought the argument full circle, and argued that economic deprivation in Brazil at present is not making fighters hungry, it is keeping them on the job working
“I don’t really agree with (what Silva said),” said Werdum through an interpreter. “Brazil, like Mexico, has some of the best fighters. There’s quantity and quality. A major contributor to the reason they don’t have titles is because they come from a humble background. They have to work to support their family and they cannot focus on just training.”
Still, Brazil does not lack for top contenders. In middleweight for example, the American Chris Weidman may be champion, but the top four contenders are all do Brasil:
1. Anderson Silva
2. Jacare Souza
3. Vitor Belfort
4. Lyoto Machida
And Werdum gets the opportunity to fight Mark Hunt and take an interim title back for Brazil at UFC 180 on November 15, 2014 at Arena Ciudad de México in Mexico City, Mexico.
“It’s time for Brazil to take most of the titles back,” said Werdum.
“It’s very important to me, because I represent Brazil, I represent my city. I’m working for this title and I want to bring it back to Brazil. I’m sure I’m gonna get that belt.”
So what do you think UG? Does Werdum beat Hunt? And why is there only one fighter from Brazil wearing a UFC belt?