Fighters Only

Issue 094

November 2012

WERDUM SAYS HE’LL KO OVEREEM TO GET TO CHAMP DOS SANTOS

Jiu-jitsu champion and strike-happy UFC heavyweight Fabricio Werdum admits he’d jump at another opportunity against champion Junior Dos Santos for his UFC gold, even if he has to knockout contender Alistair Overeem for the chance. The Brazilian lost via first-round knockout in Dos Santos’ debut UFC bout at UFC 90 in October 2008.

“I learned a lot from that first fight,” Werdum revealed exclusively to Fighters Only. “At the time I wasn’t acting like I should have as a fighter. I had a nice house, I had money, and I had everything I wanted. That was a mistake. If I faced him again, I believe I would have the fight of my life.”

To get to Dos Santos, Werdum might first have to face Dutch striker Alistair Overeem a second time, after losing a decision in Strikeforce in 2011. It’s

a test Werdum’s head coach, Rafael Cordeiro, is positive his pupil would pass the second time around.

“For some reason he was a little bit nervous in that first fight against Overeem,” Cordeiro told FO. “He did his best, but I think if he fought one more time against Overeem there would be a different result for sure. I believe if they fought again he could knock him out.”

Werdum is confident as well, saying he’s a much-improved fighter from just a year ago. He said: “Not only my striking, but everything is different now. I’m a different fighter. I’m much more professional this time. I’ve done a lot of things different since I’ve [relocated to] the USA and I think people will continue to see that I’m a different fighter.”

‘STITCH’ DURAN STARTS CAMPAIGN TO GET LEON TABBS IN UFC HALL OF FAME

Renowned mixed martial arts and boxing cutman Jacob ‘Stitch’ Duran has called for recently retired colleague Leon Tabbs to earn a sport in the UFC Hall of Fame. Tabbs, who quietly retired in June, has cared for the lacerations of Octagon warriors since the very first UFC event in 1993.

Writing in his regular column for FO sister magazine Train Hard Fight Easy, Duran said Tabbs should be under consideration for induction at the next opportunity. Duran wrote: “I hope Dana White and the UFC see the value Leon brought to the game and consider him the next time they induct someone into the UFC Hall of Fame. He absolutely deserves it.”

Currently, the late Charles ‘Mask’ Lewis, co-founder of TapouT fight wear, is the only Hall of Famer to have never fought in the UFC.

25%

Around 25% of respondents in a US poll commissioned by Yahoo! Sports said they think MMA should be an Olympic sport.

UFC 148 set a US box office record for the promotion with $6,901,655 hauled in at the gate.

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