Werdum planning ‘rematch tour’ as champion
Fabricio Werdum is now the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion and already has a plan for his first three title defenses, all rematches.
Fabricio Werdum is now the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion and already has a plan for his first three title defenses, all rematches:
“I would like to fight Arlovski because it was a close fight, a split decision, an ugly fight that nobody liked, and I think I won,” Werdum told MMAFighting.com. “Arlovski next might be a good idea. After that, ‘Cigano’. But I take step by step. The next step is Arlovski, and then ‘Cigano’. I fought ‘Minotauro’ again, did well and won, and now it’s the rematch with Arlovski. ‘Cigano’ would be cool. But I got to focus on Arlovski first because he’s a former UFC champion and this fight will sell well.”
Werdum initially offered an immediate rematch to Velasquez, but changed his mind.
“I talked about a rematch with Velasquez in respect,” he said. “He was a great champion and did a lot for the sport, so I was being respectful. But then I thought about it, the way the fight went… When it’s a close fight, when there’s doubt, or when it’s a quick finish, you do an immediate rematch. But I did everything I was planning to do and then got him with that guillotine. People saw there’s no need for rematch now.”