Fabricio Werdum wanted to go all in against Junior Dos Santos – and he really meant all in.
Werdum returns to action Friday night as he takes on fellow former UFC heavyweight champion Dos Santos in the main event of Gamebred Bareknuckle 5.
Yes, that’s right, bareknuckle MMA. And although this might be too far for some fighters, Werdum actually wanted to take things a step further and fight Dos Santos under Vale Tudo rules – a popular fighting style that preceded MMA where almost everything goes.
“The first time I saw (Jorge) Masvidal, which was like two months ago in Las Vegas, I told him that I wanted to do Vale Tudo so we could headbutt, do soccer kicks, stomps, everything,” Werdum told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “However, he told me that there wasn’t enough time to look into changing the rules. But anyway, I do like this idea.
“I think that MMA gloves are so small that it doesn’t make a difference. It’s the same. It’s the same to have gloves or no gloves. Now, if it’s a boxing glove, then you’ve got a difference. But I do like this idea.”
The bout against Dos Santos marks the first time Werdum will fight since May 2021 when he originally lost by TKO to Renan Ferreira under the PFL banner. The result would later get overturned to a no contest after the New Jersey Athletic Commission determined Ferreira tapped out to a triangle choke applied by Werdum before the finish.
Werdum, now 46, isn’t sure if he’ll fight beyond Friday. He feels good and healthy, but there are other factors that could sway him away from competition.
“If it was up to my wife, Karine, I wouldn’t fight,” Werdum said. “She’s sick of me fighting and being away from home. It’s been two months since I haven’t seen my family and my wife, so I do need to think about that. I’m 46 years old, but I do feel great.
“I needed that break of being two years plus without fighting because I wanted to do this. This was for me. And I’m good. My brain is good. I’m not affected or have any big injuries. To be honest, I feel good. However, I do need to think about it. Right now I only have this fight in mind on Sept. 8 and then after I’ll think about something else. I think, I don’t know. I can’t say right now I’m retiring.
“If there’s a good offer like this one, this offer I couldn’t say no. I would’ve been crazy if I would’ve said no thanks because the offer was really good. And not only that, I enjoy fighting. Fighting is what I do. I have other businesses, but this is what I know how to do best.”
Werdum confirmed to MMA Junkie that he’s no longer under contract with PFL, but he doesn’t rule out a return.
