Fabricio Werdum: Odd Man Out in the UFC Heavyweight Title Picture
by Kid Nate on Oct 20, 2008 2:16 PM EDT
in MMA News
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PrintSherdog has a good piece about Fabricio Werdum and his plight outside the four man heavy weight title tournament looking in:
“I didn’t like that they put Brock Lesnar against Randy Couture,” Werdum said. “I think that it would be fair to put ‘Minotauro’ Nogueira against Couture -- it had to be a fight between these two. Despite having been champion once, I’ve not found it fair that Frank Mir is fighting for the belt. I had two great victories where I was very superior to my opponents, Gabriel Gonzaga and Brandon Vera. I’ve won by myself -- not the judges.
“So I think I would be the one to fight against ‘Minotauro’ or Couture, the winner between the two of them, for the belt. I’ve imagined that I would fight for the title in March. Let’s see what will happen. I hope to do my part fighting against ‘Cigano.’ I won’t underestimate him. I will win. It will be by knockout or a finish. I won’t give any opportunity for bad luck.”
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ABSOLUTELY!
I am surprised Werdum has not made a BIGGER deal about it.
REASON IS, Werdum got beat by Arlovski and AA is not with the UFC anymore.
If Fedor destroys Arlovski, it will kill the UFC HW Title even more if Werdum wins.
I would be pissed and leave the UFC if I were Werdum. He is obviously THE MOST WORTHY HW they have to fight Nog or Randy.
I would be pissed and leave the UFC if I were Werdum.
You are amusing.
by Eugene Schelfaut on Oct 20, 2008 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions
I think he ceased being amusing a while ago.
by Richard Wade on Oct 20, 2008 5:40 PM EDT up reply actions
I like this part:
If Fedor destroys Arlovski, it will kill the UFC HW Title even more if Werdum wins.
Absurd.
by Cannon Jacques on Oct 20, 2008 8:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Mir beat Lesnar and is a former HW champ
So him v Nog is a perfectly reasonable fight (especially considering it was booked – and the TUF series set up – before Randy’s comeback was announced.) I feel for Werdum, but damnit, he is 2-1 in the UFC (and that beatdown of Vera looks less and less impressive everyday) and is about to have his record (and wallet) padded by a scrub. He’s also already lost to Nog elsewhere.
The way I see it, while this 4 man tourney is playing itself out, there will be three men in line for the first shot at the undisputed winner (not counting Fedor): Werdum, Velasquez and Carwin. Werdum should fight one of those two for the #1 contender spot in the coming months (Napao had his chance – he, however, should fight whoever Werdum does not, because either Shane or Cain will eat Kongo’s lunch.)
Thoughts?
by Derek Suboticki on Oct 20, 2008 3:12 PM EDT reply actions
Tournament?
Why is this being called a tournament? My understanding of “Tournament Style” in MMA is 3 fights taking place in one night. If this was a tournament it would be amazing. Nog vs Mir then Couture vs Lesnar then the winners fight for the title all in the same night! This style is really cool and it requires a twist to the fight strategy. It puts pressure on the fighters to win their first match quickly and without injury so as to save their energy and maintain their health for the second fight.
"Stop smiling you are about to be punched in the face !"
Just because you think that is what a tournament is doesn’t mean that is the only definition of a tournament. NCAA tournament takes place over 3 weeks. The state’s are very restrictive on MMA tournament taking place on one night. It is, IMO, NOT the way to crown a champ. They should have the proper preparation to face such top level guys for such an important title.
i'm not into the one night tournaments
too many fluke finishes — or do you think Joachim Hansen is the best lightweight in DREAM?
This isn’t the NCAA. My question was, “why is this being called a tournament?” I wasn’t suggesting that the UFC HW Title should be decided by a MMA tournament. I do think MMA tournaments are cool though. My issue is with the 4 man HW title situation being called a tournament when it is not.
"Stop smiling you are about to be punched in the face !"
It’s just not a 1 night tournament, it’s still a tournament.
Two matches where everyone knows in advance that the winners will face each other is a tournament, I’m not really sure what you’re looking for.
yikes
I have never heard of A “Multi-Night MMA Tournament”. By definiton a MMA Tournament takes place in one night but if you guys insist on calling it a tournament thats fine, its wrong, but call it whatever you want. I was looking to clarify what a MMA Tournament is.
"Stop smiling you are about to be punched in the face !"
That is some definition you have made up on your own.
TUF is a multi-day MMA tournament.
The Pride and Dream GPs are multi-day tournaments, or are you implying that the first 2 rounds don’t count because they aren’t the same day?
LOL..That is entirely possible. It would not be the first time I completely fabricated something but it was my understanding based on the 2 tournaments I have attended. I could probably argue this point more but its not that important to me. Thank you Phildo for clarifying that the term “MMA Tournament” has many meanings.
"Stop smiling you are about to be punched in the face !"
It should be pointed out that no one from the UFC officially ever said this was a tournament. Just because it’s like a tournament doesn’t mean that it’s officially anything beyond them announcing the winners of these two matches fight each other next.
regardless...
that is a tournament. I mean…you don’t have to say it for it to be so. It is the EXACT definition of a tournament.
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Oct 20, 2008 8:43 PM EDT up reply actions
I thought he did
Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.
by Brent Brookhouse on Oct 20, 2008 8:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Yea, it was nothing official, but I’ve definitely heard him say the word tournament while talking about this situation.
I’m not sure if it was the conference call//video blogs from right after it was announced or when he was questioned about it at another time, but he’s said the word tournament.
White called it a “interesting little tournament” he didn’t announce that they were having a “tournament” he was just describing the situation they were in with these matches. You won’t find it called a tournament in any of the official advertising for it. My point was about the guy talking like there were some kind of official rules for MMA tournaments. That wouldn’t matter because this isn’t a official UFC tournament it’s just the winners of two fights fighting each other.
Honestly I think they should annouce it and advertise it as a official tournament instead of two separate title fights and a unscheduled unification fight in the future. Still the situation is confusing enough for the casual fan with them having two heavyweight belts without them pushing the tournament angle too.
He's referred to it as a tournament multiple times...
on the conference call announcing it. It’s always, “after we sought out this tournament”, “the final of the tournament will be” “tournament tournament tournament”
Dana White says all sorts of things all the time but that doesn’t mean that this is a officially structured tournament. Heck they haven’t even booked a date or a venue for the so called final of this so called tournament yet.. Yes I know it is basically the same thing as a tournament but that doesn’t make it any more official than Dana White stating that the winner of the Huerta vs Florian fight would get a title shot or that Chuck Liddell has to beat Keith Jardine if he wants to fight Wanderlei Silva. Dana White says all sorts of stuff all the time but that doesn’t mean it’s a “official” fight stipulation.
I was replying to the guy who said that a MMA tournament has to have a official structure. The UFC is booking this as two title fights and Dana said there would be a future unification fight at a undetermined time and place; they don’t have to give it any kind of official tournament structure at all, it isn’t even being booked as a tournament.
Fighter A will fight Fighter B. Fighter C will fight Fighter D. The winners will fight each other to crown the champion. How is that not a tournament?
by Richard Wade on Oct 20, 2008 5:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Shouldn’t the title read ‘Odd’ man out?
http://mma4real.net/
by Tha Realness on Oct 20, 2008 3:14 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Because
He dominated a perennial top 10 HW in Heath Herring in his 3rd pro fight….? because his name draws instant attention in the sports entertainment world, mma world, and mainstream market>? because he is fighting Cotoure, who is the experienced, undersized, american hero making his return as the perfect foil to the mammoth jerk of a novice that is Brock Lesnar… fairly easy choice in terms of upside
We’ve heard this for quite a while now.
If he keeps winning, he’ll be in line after the tournament plays out. I don’t think people need to concern themselves too much about it.
If people were clamoring to see him fight for the title to any significant extent, he would be involved in the tournament.
I think most forget...
That Cotoure came back specifically because the fight with Brock would be a huge, marquee fight… If it hadn’t been for Randy’s return, I don’t think we’d be seeing Brock involved in championship implications quite yet.
Right, this is the point everyone skips over when whining about Brock getting the title shot.
Without Brock getting the fight with Randy, there would be no fight with Randy in the UFC. Brock/Randy is bigger money than Nog/Randy or Werdum/Randy, that’s why Randy took the fight.
It sucks that Werdum is getting skipped over, but this is a very good solution, especially when you consider what the UFC HW division looked like 6 months ago.
Werdum is right, but then again, the fight game isn’t fair. It’s about making money. At this point I don’t think Werdum could sell a life vest to a drowning man. No offense to Werdum, but I don’t think his name carries any real weight right now.
if mms fans would pull there heads out of their asses...
the best, most fair, deserving, appropriate, exciting, worthy fights would also be the most lucrative for zuffa. But everybody should understand that short term, and long term, PPV buys are driving the match making — 100%.
I told you I can't build your candy house! It will fall apart, the sun will melt the candy, it won't work!
This is simply the current situation. There’s nothing unfair about it.
Couture is the champ and Nog is the interim champ.
Brock Lesnar sells PPVs in addition to the fact that he just beat a perennial contender. Herring has given the best fighters in the world a run for their money. And Lesnar didn’t just beat him – he completely dismantled him. Lesnar vs Couture has the potential to be the biggest fight in company history. Why pass that up when the timing is perfect?
Frank Mir won a big fight against a much larger man when all eyes were watching. Let’s also not forget that he was once the Heavyweight champion and was never officially beaten for the belt; it was stripped due to injury.
Fabricio has been very impressive lately since his loss to Arlovski. He beat Gonzaga, one of the toughest guys out there, but it was after Gonzaga was destroyed by Couture who is of course in the tournament. His other win was a questionable stoppage against Brandon Vera, a small heavyweight who has shown he can’t hang with elite fighters – even those at a lower weight class.
There is nothing shady going on here. The inclusion of Mir and Lesnar in this “tournament” instead of Werdum is due to the current circumstances at hand – not him being overlooked. He’s only won two fights in a row.
Jon Fitch won seven UFC fights in a row before he was granted a title shot. If Werdum whups this Cigano guy and then goes and takes out Velasquez, Carwin, or Kongo there will be no doubt.
While I agree that it sucks to be Werdum in this situation I don’t really think he got too screwed over by all of this. Big Nog vs Mir is a current champion vs a former champion who never lost his belt being sold through TUF, Werdum doesn’t get that shot because he would be a ratings disaster on TUF and he really does need more US showcase wins to build himself up. His shot should of been the one after the Mir fight but Randy coming back screwed that up.
Randy vs Brock is all about Randy getting paid but lets not act like Brock Lesnar doesn’t have a real chance at beating all these guys. You don’t earn title shots through senority or winning a set amout of fights you get them by showing that you have a real chance of winning the belt, that’s why Brock got his shot and that’s why Werdum will eventually get his. Of course Randy vs Nogueira would of been the most logical fight but at the time Randy came back TUF was already being filmed and Nog vs Mir was already in place(you know the UFC would of preferred Nogueira vs Couture as TUF coaches if they had that choice).
What I found funniest about the Sherdog article was that Werdum’s badmouthing of Frank Mir was the kind of think that would actually help build interest in a fight with Mir if he was the one who win’s the belt.
“you get them [title shots] by showing you have a real chance of winning the belt”
That explains Silva vs. Cote!
I told you I can't build your candy house! It will fall apart, the sun will melt the candy, it won't work!
I laugh when people talk about how Mir never lost his belt. Sure, he didn’t. And like Jens Pulver (who also didn’t), his first trip back into the Octagon resulted in an embarassing loss. Honestly, without the kindness of the judges when he fought Christison, he should have been 0-3 in his next three. He’s there because he speaks english and has been a pet project of Dana’s forever and a day.
The UFC wanted Nogueira to get the exposure from being a coach on TUF and they didn’t have much to sell the show with besides Mir(who had just beat Brock Lesnar in a high profile fight), Nogueira and Werdum on TUF would of really been a ratings disaster. So yes Mir is in this position because he can speak English and be interesting on tv but you better believe that the UFC won’t let anyone forget that he is a former world champion(same as they did with Pulver), his never actually losing the belt is important from a hyping/justifying the show angle. Mir also got a boost from the fact that the UFC heavyweight division is pretty darn thin.
I think it’s probable that if Randy had come back a couple of months earlier it would of been Randy and Nogueira coaching TUF and if Brandon Vera hadn’t stunk it up in the heavyweight division he might of been a coach instead of Mir and if Arlovski hadn’t left for huge Affliction paychecks he would of been a more probable TUF coach than Mir too.
Nogueira and Werdum on TUF would of really been a ratings disaster.
And IMO the fight would’ve been terrible again.
Werdum, possibly due to his alleged super-hero/villain origin, just doesn’t seem to relish the rare opportunity he’s been given and paid for. I know he’s got skills, but when given 15 minutes to use them and market them he stalls at the gate.
I’m not a fan of “brawlin” btw. I simply wish he’d be more proactive, than reactive. It’s not self defense. Also, SEE: Machida.
he's probably not
But it’s not the biggest stiff anyone’s gotten before in the UFC. I don’t see Machida complaining that often. As someone above said, I can’t blame Dana for putting on the mega-match of Couture vs Lesnar while it’s hot. And it’s not like Werdum has been THAT convincing. He beat Zag once he gassed, lost to AA, and beat Vera but it certainly helped that the ref came in early.
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