In October of 2016, former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum protested the mandatory wearing of Reebok apparel in the Octagon, with a photoshop of a Nike logo over his Reebok walkout apparel. The caption was hashtagged #chupa #mishuevos #reebok.
That translates as #suck #myballs #Heebok.
“For people saying I’d get in trouble, there will be no trouble,” he wrote shortly afterward on Facebook. “It was just a protest, something that before we could show any sponsor we wanted.”
Werdum was then fired as a color commentator for the Spanish language UFC broadcast, something he had done for some time, and with excellence. Now, following a January 29 discussion with UFC president Dana White, Werdum reports that he’s back in front of the camera.
Sometimes you have a fight with your wife, have a fight with your friend, is normal life, said Werdum during an appearance on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, as transcribed by Guilherme Cruz for MMA Fighting. And sometimes you have a fight in your job, too. But it’s not very important, little fights. But it’s in the past.
Yes, I’m happy about this because I love this job. It’s not just about money. For money too, but it’s my work. I love this work. The first time I go to the TV for commentary I no like it because I have a fight coming up and I didn’t wanna do that, but now I love this. I love TV because it’s in Spanish, for all Latin America, for USA in FOX Desportes, and I’m fluent in Spanish, I’m very comfort that. I love this.
Maybe I stop fighting in four years, three years, I have a good job. Not job just for money, but I love this. Much better.
Werdum will be commentating on Saturday at UFC 221. And he fights Alexander Volkov in the main event of UFC Fight Night 127: Werdum vs. Volkov on March 17, 2018, at The O2 Arena in London, England. The event will also feature the UFC debut of Jimmy Smith.
