Den tidigare UFC-mästaren i tungvikt, Fabricio Werdum (23-7-1 MMA, 11-4 UFC) är på jakt efter en ny titelchans. Denna lördag kommer brasilianaren fortsätta sin jakt när han tar sig an Alexander Volkov (29-6 MMA, 3-0 UFC) i huvudmatchen för UFC Fight Night 127.
Han har vunnit 3 av sina 4 senaste fighter sedan han förlorade sin titel mot den regerande mästaren Stipe Miocic för 2 år sedan. Han förlust kom mot Alistair Overeem genom domslut.
När Miocic nu blivit inbokad att fightas mot UFC-mästaren i lätt-tungvikt, Daniel Cormier, i juli så vet Werdum att han måste prestera under tiden om det ska bli tal om ännu en titelmatch. Werdum hade följande att säga till MMA Junkie nyligen:
I can’t think of the belt only, nor can I sit around and not fight, waiting for the belt to come to me. I have to demonstrate my worth by fighting as often as possible. I’m confident I’ll have another shot.
Werdum hävdade att det inte spelar någon större roll om hans nästa titelfight blir mot Mioci eller hans gode vän Daniel Cormier.
My greatest objective is being the champion for a third time. It doesn’t matter if it’s against Stipe Miocic or Daniel Cormier. I love Daniel Cormier. He’s my friend going back several years. But we’re professionals. If he wins, I’ll have to fight him. What can I do? My goal is the belt. That’s it. It doesn’t matter who’s holding it.
If it’s Stipe Miocic, great – I get to avenge a loss. If it’s Daniel Cormier, we’ll fight. I have nothing bad to say about him. I don’t badmouth people to promote a fight. That’s not who I am. … My goal is the belt, regardless of who has it.
Vidare hade Werdum följande att säga om helgens motståndare Alexander Volkov som han betraktar som en mycket svår motståndare:
I see Volkov as a very difficult opponent. He’s very tall. He has a great reach, and very good muay Thai. He just beat three guys in the UFC. And every heavyweight in the UFC is dangerous. I think it will be a great fight. I’m able to visualize it. I envision a lot of muay Thai. And like everyone says, I expect to knock him out or submit him. (But) the main thing is to get the win.
Werdum berättade även att det är osäkert om han kommer kunna avsluta sin motståndare:
Of course, I also want a finish, but it’s not always possible. Some strategies just don’t work. So I don’t try to only put on a show. My goal is to win. That’s the most important. Then we’ll see how I get there. This is a tall, dangerous opponent, who’s durable. He’s not a ground specialist, but I wouldn’t underestimate anyone. He knows ground defense, and he gets up quickly. So it’s going to be a great fight. I have to take care, because anything can happen in five rounds.
