Fabricio Werdum Says Request For UFC Release Received Thumbs Down

Barring some unforeseen turn of events, it looks like Fabricio Werdum’s next bout will be under the UFC’s banner after all.

The former heavyweight champ was flagged for banned substances in 2018, and Werdum ended up receiving a two-year suspension. “Vai Cavalho”, who said the positive test was due to a misunderstanding, asked the UFC to release him so he could fight elsewhere.

Well, with 2019 now half over, the Brazilian star recently told Combate this (quotes via MMA Mania):

“I have two more UFC fights,” Werdum said. “I tried to terminate the contract, but they didn’t let me, because I’m a former champion and they still wanted me around, so cutting ties right now is out of the table. Since it wasn’t possible, I’ll stay fight two more times. Let’s see how it goes in the future.”

So, when you consider what Werdum has accomplished during his career, the fact the UFC didn’t let him go fight for another promotion isn’t too shocking. The 41-year-old will be eligible to return to the cage in May, 2020, and it sounds like Werdum could fight into 2021 as well.

“If the UFC gave me a guaranteed three, four, five-year contract, I would stay,” Werdum said. “I would fight four, five more times and then I would end my career and would stay as a commentator. If not, I’m moving to another promotion.”

The well rounded fighter is coming off a knockout loss to Alexander Volkov in May, 2018.