Issue 121

November 2014

Despite being the underdog, Spanish-speaking Fabricio Werdum heads to Mexico City with an upset over Velasquez on his mind, along with thoughts of uniting Latin America for himself.

Mexico finally opens its doors to the Ultimate Fighting Championship in November when national hero and heavyweight king Cain Velasquez enters the Octagon for the first time in over a year to defend his world title belt against number-one contender Fabricio Werdum.

It’s the perfect main event to crown an occasion more than 10 years in the making. It is at least a decade since UFC executives Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta first discussed the opportunities that reside in the fight-fanatical Mexican market. 

Despite its incredible fight sports history, Mexico has proven itself to be one of the toughest regions on the planet to break into for the world’s leading MMA promotion. But next month, finally, it’s showtime!

As for the main event, well, it even sounds like a lucha libre (Mexican wrestling) headliner. The mighty all-conquering Cain defending his world heavyweight championship against Brazilian grappler-turned-striker ‘Vai Cavalo’, Go Horse. 

And while Mexico’s most famous real-life luchador (grappler) may well be the favorite to add to his legacy as the nation’s first and only heavyweight champion, the man in the opposing corner has a dream of his own. And unlike Mexico’s beloved, colorful lucha libre scene, let’s not forget, UFC main events are anything but scripted.

Ludicrous things frequently occur when the Octagon door closes, and underdog title success stories – like those of Chris Weidman and TJ Dillashaw inside the past 12 months alone – are ever present through the annals of MMA history. The question is, could Werdum be next?

He’s certainly got the credentials, having grown from arguably the best Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighter in the division to also one of its most dynamic strikers. And fate too, it seems, is also on the side of the challenger. After all, no man in history has managed to make three consecutive defenses of the UFC heavyweight belt – a curse Cain has suffered under once before.

Most critically, and regardless of what odds the bookies may be offering, Werdum is also here on merit. He’s not been pushed through to fashion Cain with a home victory. Werdum is the top heavyweight challenger in the world, and on November 15th he’ll get his shot at UFC gold. And he can’t wait. 

Chatting with Fighters Only following the final pre-event press call in Mexico City, Werdum insists he’s finally ready to achieve his career dream of becoming the world champion. And defeating Velasquez to do it is all a part of the job description.

“After fighting professionally for over 10 years, to finally become the world champion will mean everything to me,” Werdum says. “It is the final goal of my fighting career, so I have no words to describe how important it will be.

“It feels amazing to be here now. It’s the opportunity and time I have been waiting for since I first started my career. 

“This being the first UFC show in Mexico is huge already, and so for Cain too this is a big moment. But it’s my moment also. This will be my biggest award, the top moment of my career.”

Despite the occasion and a nation looking to Cain, Werdum doesn’t believe the champion will struggle under the pressure of the home crowd. But he is confident in his own ability to take the fight to Velasquez. It’s an opportunity he’s fully prepared for, although snatching the limelight isn’t top of his agenda.

“I don’t plan to steal anything from Velasquez, besides the belt. I think the fans love him, but they love me too,” Werdum states. “I work for the UFC commentating in Spanish so the fans are familiar with me already and I also have fans in Mexico. 

“I have not be given a hard time by any fans or anything like that. The fans respect my abilities and I think they’re just looking forward to a great championship fight. I’m really not worried about it, and I am used to fighting under pressure.”

Regardless of what the odds may say, Werdum claimed his shot at the championship with a succession of standout performances. His position as number-one contender cannot be disputed. He’s come a very long way since his 2011 upturned-turtle display against Alistair Overeem in the Strikeforce grand prix.

In battering through Roy Nelson and Mike Russow in 2012, Werdum first showed his vastly improved stand-up game. But it was his wins over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira last year, and Travis Browne in April which set him on course for Velasquez.

Submitting ‘Big Nog’ with an armbar in the summer of 2013 passed the unofficial torch of MMA’s leading heavyweight Brazilian jiu-jitsu exponent over to Werdum, while the manner in which he brutalized then-leading contender Browne in the stand-up for five rounds in Florida six months ago was staggering.

Rafael Cordeiro, head coach at Kings MMA in California, has largely been credited with Werdum’s revival. Gone is the supremely talented, gold-medal-winning jiu-jitsu master, and in his place is a knee and elbow-clashing Muay Thai mayhem machine.

Yet Werdum admits it’s a team game away from the bright lights of the Octagon, and preparation across the board is key to success. He says: “When you know you did everything you could to get ready for one fight your confidence improves a lot, because you did your homework. 

“Rafael always pushes me and drives me to improve. I train a lot, I never cut corners, and because of that I am confident in myself, my team. Once you have that belief, then you can achieve anything, as we have been proving in recent performances.

“Throughout my fighting career people considered me the underdog, so I am well used to it by now,” Werdum says, when asked about the Browne performance. “In all honestly, I don’t care about that. It’s something that doesn’t even enter my head. My team always believes in me and together we work hard to get it done. Beating Travis Browne was a big moment for me. It was an official title eliminator so it was important to get the victory. He was a great opponent but I was ready and I did my job.”

He adds: “Big Nog is a legend of the sport and so to have the opportunity to fight him is already a great thing, regardless of the result. Of course, the victory was amazing, and it took me one huge step closer to where I am now.”

Indeed Werdum sees similarities in that fight, the finale of the second TUF: Brazil season, and this one with Cain which is of course the finale of the first TUF: Latin America season. He says: “Both myself and ‘Minotauro’ Nogueira had a lot fans in Brazil, it was a great time. The fans cheered for us both and they just wanted to see a great fight. I think it will be the same in Mexico too.”

Throw in wins over Mike Kyle, ‘Bigfoot’ Silva and the career-defining 2010 Fighters Only World MMA Awards ‘Submission of the Year’ success against Fedor Emelianenko, and it’s clear the last five years have been remarkable for Werdum. All except, of course, the loss to Overeem.

Looking at ‘The Reem’s own UFC performances since, being knocked out by both Bigfoot and Browne last year, you’d think Werdum would be kicking himself for not engaging Overeem in a stand-up battle when they fought, instead of lying on his back actually begging the Dutchman to step down into his guard.

Yet Werdum is adamant everything happens for a reason and is refusing to rue missed opportunities. “The fight against Overeem is in the past, I don’t dwell on this fight. I prefer to learn my lessons and look for my next challenge. For sure I was going to do things differently back then. But we can’t go back in time and so I regret nothing. That fight is part of my story. It has brought me to where I am now.”

And that’s one victory away from achieving his career dream of being the UFC heavyweight champion. Yet Velasquez, unlike Overeem, is so much more than a dangerous striker. Cain’s outstanding wrestling base is backed up by outrageous cardio and brick-fisted mitts. While his BJJ black belt proves he’s handy on the mats too.

Werdum accepts he’s an all-around threat. But maintains the same can be said of his own fighting arsenal. He chuckles: “My plan is top secret, but we will be ready on November 15th that’s for sure. I will be training everything, as always, so there will be no special attention given to wrestling in this camp.

“At this level, you have to be good in all areas, and so I’m ready to fight everywhere. If Cain wants to wrestle, that’s fine with me. I’ve worked on every aspect of my technique.”

The fact Velasquez will meet Werdum head-on also appeals to the Brazilian. “It will be a great fight. Our styles match up well together. We both love to put on a great show for the fans.”

However, he also believes the fight may go early and admits it seems unlikely the scoring judges at ringside will be called upon to make a decision. “We will see, of course, but we both fight to get it done as soon as possible. We both fight the same way, with the same intensity. The judges may not be required.”

And, as for the belt, Werdum admits he visualizes himself with UFC gold around his waist daily. It’s almost become a routine for him in the morning as he packs his bags for another long day on the practice mats. “I do it every day,” he adds. “It’s a dream for now, but soon it will be for real.”

A TUF route to the title

Fabricio Werdum may not have ever competed on The Ultimate Fighter TV series, but the reality show has proven the key to unlocking a heavyweight title shot for the blossoming Brazilian.

Werdum has coached on two consecutive international seasons of TUF, firstly on the second season of the Brazilian series and now in the inaugural Latin America season, and consequently coaching other fighters has brought with it good fortune for the 37-year-old.

A second-round submission of Antonio Nogueira followed his Brazilian assignment, and now Cain Velasquez and the heavyweight belt await Werdum in Mexico City on November 15th.

Werdum says: “I enjoyed filming The Ultimate Fighter and I appreciated the opportunity. I think it was a great idea for the UFC to have a TUF season here (for Mexico), to ensure better exposure in Latin America. They needed me to do it, and I did it with pleasure. I enjoy coaching and enjoy the show.”

He adds: “Latin America is a great market for the UFC and people love us here. I think it was an amazing idea, this show, and I enjoyed it. I think fans who have watched the show too will see that. It was a good experience for me, for all of us.”

Spanish-speaking Werdum, who spent a decade of his life coaching jiu-jitsu in Spain, was the perfect foil for champ Velasquez whose own Mexican heritage has already made him a superstar south of the border.

Yet unlike some seasons of the show, there was nothing but respect shown between the two heavyweight rivals. Werdum laughs: “Sure, we saw each other every day, so there was no hiding. I never talk trash about anyone and neither does Velasquez so there were no screaming matches or anything crazy. Everyone who steps into the Octagon deserves a lot of respect.”