While Fabricio
Werdum prepares for his Global Fight League debut against
Frank
Mir, he has decided to hold a special event for up-and-coming
mixed martial artists.
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The MMA challenge will take place on Wednesday and features
fighters weighing between 65 and 75 kilograms (143 to 165 pounds).
The winner will get the opportunity to compete for the Brazil-based
Jungle
Fight promotion.
“When I started [fighting] I was so eager to have an opportunity,”
Werdum said. “In some cases, I even paid my ticket to fight. The
idea of the ‘Werdum Challenge’ is to provide that opportunity for
fighters. I talked to Wallid [Ismael], who was the first to give me
an opportunity, and he liked the idea. So we will start in Jungle
Fight, but the idea is also to do it in other MMA promotions and
also include grappling.”
According to Werdum, the first iteration of his challenge will air
on his YouTube channel.
“The event will take place in Sao Paulo at the training center of
former MMA fighter Viscardi
Andrade, and only the 16 who get in the line first will
participate,” he said. “The fighters must have at least five bouts’
experience and a winning record. The winner will get a place in the
next edition of Jungle Fight.
Werdum had a good reason for allowing a wide variance in weight for
the initial challenge.
“Since the event was decided on short notice, I’ll accept under or
over five kilograms (11 pounds), so fighters between [those
weights] will be able to participate.”
The winner of the Werdum Challenge will not receive a monetary
prize. Instead, he will received a computer, supplements and a
gaming chair provided by Werdum’s sponsors. Those who want to
participate must arrive at CT Viscardi Andrade on Wednesday at 10
a.m. local time.