After being hit with a two year suspension by USADA last year, Fabricio Werdum has reportedly asked the UFC to release him, so he can apply his trade elsewhere.

Werdum was notified that he had tested positive for banned substances in advance of a planned bout with Alexey Oleynik last September. Werdum said it was a “misunderstanding”, but ultimately the former heavyweight champ was hit with a two year suspension, retroactive to May, 2018.

According to a new report from MMA Fighting, Werdum recently appeared on PVT and relayed the following:

”What I would really like right now is to be free, that the UFC would have consideration with me and release me,” Werdum said. “It’s a matter of Ali (Abdelaziz) talking with (White) now. Ali really has a good friendship with Dana White. It’s not only up to Dana. They always say that, and I go talk to someone else and they say it’s not only up to them as well, it’s that game. I obviously love fighting in the UFC, but after this (situation), this unfair doping, I would like to fight in other promotions.”

”I already told the UFC, I’ll sign a term that I would not fight in the United States anymore,” Werdum said. “I’d fight overseas, Japan, Russia, Europe, wherever, but I wouldn’t fight in the United States to cause no harm. I would sign that to be released. I just want to be free to do what I want, which is fight. It’s not about money. I still have a lot to show. I’m 41, but I feel like a kid.”

So, it will be interesting to see what the UFC does here. The promotion has let other fighters go at their request in the past. But, in this case Werdum is still under suspension.

Werdum is coming off a knockout loss to Alexander Volkov last May, which followed victories over Walt Harris and Marcin Tybura. “Vai Cavalo” carries a record of 23-8-1.

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