[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOyR93Cc-1c&w=560&h=315]
Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the PFL live on
your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the
ESPN app. After some days of mystery, Fabricio
Werdum went public with his decision to withdraw from the 2021
Professional Fighters League season. Werdum met Renan
Ferreira at
PFL 3: 2021 Regular Season, and the heavyweights went to battle
for just over half a round. When the fight hit the ground, Werdum
slapped on a triangle choke and appeared to elicit a tap, but
referee Keith Peterson was not in position to observe it so
Ferreira kept fighting and knocked Werdum out.
The New Jersey State Athletic Control Board later overturned the
result to a no contest, but the strikes to Werdum did some lasting
damage. In an interview with Sherdog, the all-time great revealed
that his neurologist, Dr. Wuilker Knoner Campos, did not allow him
to return after a series of tests.
“As I told you a few hours after the fight against Renan
Ferreira, I got a medical suspension,” Werdum explained. “When
I arrived in Brazil, my doctor did many exams, and found my left
temple was really swollen and asked me to not train for one month.
When I was 20 or even 30, I’ve hidden many injuries to be able to
fight, even without any training, but now I need to prioritize my
health. I’m 43 years old. I want to see my daughters growing up
healthy. I postponed that decision until the last minute, but 10
days ago, after talking to my family and master Rafael
Cordeiro, I communicated with PFL and they gave me [full]
support.”
Werdum made clear, however, that retirement is not part of his plan
anytime soon.
“I just need some more time to recover and return to the training.
I’ve never been so valued by an [organization], and as soon as I’m
fine, I’ll be ready to fight anyone they choose.”
Despite all the drama with Ferreira on the first round of the
season, Werdum didn’t show any desire to rematch his opponent.
“I’m not focused on revenge. Let him make his career. He is
arriving in the sport right now. I’ve always faced the toughest
heavyweights in my career and never choose opponents; if PFL thinks
it is an interesting matchup when I return, I don’t see any
problem,” the legendary heavyweight said.
As he is currently out of the tournament and not likely able to
reach the playoffs unless he serves as an alternate, he is now
cheering for his countryman, Bruno
Henrique Cappelozza.
“I liked the aggressive way [Cappelozza] fought. Backstage, he was
like an underdog, the ‘small guy among big guys,’ but when the cage
closed, he showed what is made [of]. Strong, fast, explosive, and
[capable of] winning via fast knockout. My cheering is for
him.”
When asked to choose a favorite to get the million-dollar prize,
however, Werdum did not pick his heavy-handed Brazilian
counterpart. Instead, he has his sights set on Russian powerhouse
Denis
Goltsov.
“I have a feeling [Goltsov] will be the champion this year.
Actually, he almost knocked out the former champion, Ali Isaev. I
see him [beating] Sayles via first-round KO, scoring 12 points and
reaching the semifinal. I believe he will be the champion this
year.”
PFL’s fourth card of the season is not the only event up this
coming weekend, and teammate Marvin
Vettori will be vying for the middleweight throne. At UFC 263,
Vettori will rematch Israel
Adesanya in the main event on Saturday, and Werdum believes
that his coach Rafael
Cordeiro’s strategy along with Vettori’s evolution will make
the difference.
“I’m really impressed how hard this kid [Vettori] trains, and how
much he evolved since he arrived in the academy,” Werdum admitted.
“Actually, he was the first one to show Adesanya’s weaknesses three
years ago, and I can guarantee that he improved a lot from there.
Besides that, he has the best MMA coach by his side, so be ready to
see this kid shock the world.”
Former Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight
champion Werdum is the only fighter who won at Abu Dhabi Combat
Club (twice) and World Jiu-Jitsu Championship (twice), while
capturing belts in the UFC and Strikeforce. “Vai Cavalo” posts a record of 24-9-1
with a no contest in almost 20 years as a professional MMA fighter,
with his only career stoppage losses coming by knockout to Alexander
Volkov, Stipe
Miocic and Junior dos
Santos.
