Fabricio Werdum was well on his way to getting a shot at the UFC heavyweight title in the near future. He had racked up an impressive winning streak before losing against Junior Dos Santos at UFC 90 in what alot of people called an upset.
Now rumors say that the heavyweight contender has been released from his UFC contract after his heartbreaking loss against Dos Santos.
- B/R Ticket Guide
Where the controversy begins is that many sites indicate that Werdum is no longer with the UFC, yet, Werdum himself said he had signed a five fight contract with the UFC before his UFC 90 fight and said he still had four fights left before his contract ended.
No news on UFC.com indicated that Werdum has been released from his contract, still his name is nowhere to be found on the site. Werdum said in a recent interview that he had no news of his release, that he was still scheduled to fight for the UFC in February, July, November and April of 2010 and that he was actually training for his next fights.
So what is going on? is Werdum still with the UFC or has the UFC blind-sided Werdum and released him from his contract?
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about 1 month ago
I was confused until I saw that they had pulled his name from the website, thats not something that happens on accident. Plus remember how quickly the UFC stepped up to set the record straight on Anderson Silva's immediate retirement rumor, it was instantaneous.
Unfortunately Werdum is done for now in the UFC. If he did sign a new contract and they tore it up thats bullshit and shame on the UFC.
from about 1 month ago
Yeah that's what I was thinking too Nate, it would be ashame that the UFC just tore the contract if they had just signed another one.
from about 1 month ago
Werdum got screwed. I get why; I'm just saying. I wonder if there is a possibility of a fight with the winner of Fedor vs. Arlovski. I could also see him fighting Alistair Overeem or Cro Cop over in Dream.
from about 1 month ago
Good point Brian, but I doubt Werdum signs with Affliction, maybe more with DREAM, I would see him fight against Overeem anytime.
from about 1 month ago
Some think Affliction will be done in 6 months. If so perhaps Fedor will sign with Dream at the point. I could also see Barnett going to Dream. I think Arlovski would try to get back into the UFC.
Dream was started by the guys that ran Pride so perhaps we will be back to the old days, the one two punch of UFC/PRIDE (aka Dream).
from about 1 month ago
Dream is on shaky ground and possibly being sold to the Segoku and I'm curious if Affliction will even be around after their next event, and theres a big possible influx of HW talent dropped into the market if EliteXC's fighters ever get released. Just like its a crappy time to lose your job in this economy, its an equally crappy time to be cut by your fight promotion.
I don't agree with the UFC tearing up his contract but I can understand their disappointment. Werdum had a boring fight against Vera and got rocked by Dos Santos so I get it.
This is a PRIME &%$#ing example of why the WEC should be used as a AAA to the UFC. It'll allow Zuffa to sign more fighters on a trial type basis and allow the fallen stars to fight their way back in without being cut. Grrrr this makes me mad. I think consolidation of the heavier weight fighters was a knee jerk reaction to Affliction going after exactly those weight classes. Dana needs to put pride aside and realize that the WEC is an excellent tool to make the UFC even better.
from about 1 month ago
I agree with you on the WEC. It makes total sense.
I would even take it a step farther, for the future, and develop regional minor league organizations. Fighters can get very popular in a regional market, develop a strong following, and then when they are ready make their mark on the UFC. That may be too much too soon at this point though.
Back to your points though Josh Rosholt is a great example. He looks great and could have used another fight or two in the WEC to improve his stand up game before joining the UFC.
Regardless, I think the UFC is too top heavy. They rely on a few superstars and a fading TV show for their success. They will have to do more to make deeper inroads into the sports psyche of America if they ever want to compete with the NFL or MLB.
I feel like their is some god material for a potential good article on this thread. I know you talked about the WEC in a previous article and discussed the idea of a minor league system.
from about 1 month ago
*good material. Was it you who wrote the article or someone else? Or was it just some great comments you made on someone else's article?!
from about 1 month ago
UFC is like MS - once they are able to charge for something (in ufc ppvs) - they cant help themselves but just keep raising the prices to make more $$$
What happens to fighters when they loose is like an afterthought - UFC to Houston Alexander "you need to go on to smaller shows & get back to winning streak before entering the octagon again".
Right, and if WEC does not have the higher weight classes, IFL & EliteXC out of business - where & when can you see guys like him fight on TV?
about 1 month ago
Not my original article but I think I wrote an essay via the comments on it. I could write a book on why using the WEC as a minor league system makes sense. In fact, I might while I'm in between flights tomorrow.
As for the regional shows, they do exist and are an excellent proving ground for fighters. I'd prefer these stay independent of the UFC/Zuffa brand, however the UFC might want to show some presence at these events, it would go far in the goodwill department and its an excellent way for them to interact with fans on a more personal level.
Speaking of goodwill, cutting Werdum like they did is bad, bad, bad for business. On the surface it might now seem like that big of a deal because he wasn't a hugely popular fighter, but...
Other fighters saw this and said, "Wow. That could happen to me."
It gives ammo to the UFC haters and other promotions who are using the "support us so the UFC isn't a monopoly" angle to bring in business.
It alienates fighters who fight and train with/under Werdum. The majority of fighters who aren't in the six figure pay day club teach or own studios. You think the younger guys he trains are going to want to go to the place that screwed over Werdum? Not likely, especially in Brazil where honor/family is still more important than $$.
from about 1 month ago
Great point there Nate, it is bad buisness for the UFC to do what they did to Werdum regarding the other fighters out there and agree about your point with WEC/UFC.
about 1 month ago
The reason he is no longer in the UFC is because his contract is up and his reps could not come to an agreement with the UFC on a new contract.
He must have spoken too soon when he mentioned a 5 fight contract a couple months ago ...
about 1 month ago
Football players have UFC-esque contracts, they can be dropped at the employers will, and they usually guarantee a certain amount of money. Werdum will get another shot, but unfortunately, Dos Santos knocked Werdum into another pay grade. He needs to go to another promotion that doesn't piss Dana White off, win a few fights, and earn himself a contract.
about 1 month ago
I wonder if the Couture v Lesner fight will look anything like this one, Brock in the Werdum role of course.
about 1 month ago
This is yet another reason why I loathe the UFC.
Actually, does it matter whether or not they robbed Werdum? They don't deserve him anyway.
Werdum's manager should have done what Fedor's manager did: turn their back to the UFC and sign elsewhere... anywhere.
Dana White has less scruples than a North Jersey Assemblyman.
about 1 month ago
This is yet another reason why I loathe the UFC.
Actually, does it matter whether or not they robbed Werdum? They don't deserve him anyway.
Werdum's manager should have done what Fedor's manager did: turn their back to the UFC and sign elsewhere... anywhere.
Dana White has less scruples than a North Jersey Assemblyman.
about 1 month ago
It is sad to see this happening to Werdum I really respect the guys submission abilities his brief splash in Pride saw him showing some real promise and his minor run in the UFC showed that the guy is one of the best in the buisiness. He should of had a title shot along time ago but UFC screwed him, nevertheless he got ktfo pretty bad and that junior dos santos fight should make him rethink his game a little bit.
about 1 month ago
The bottom line with Werdum is that he showed this last fight that he is not championship material by losing to a first time UFC fighter, coming into the fight out of shape and not giving his opponent the respect he deserved.
about 1 month ago
His contract wasn't up. He had signed I six fight contract (which is usually standard for a fighter of his caliber, after Anderson Silva's contract expired he signed a six fight one as well). After the loss two major issues came into play.
1) Werdum had been promised a title shot which was clearly derailed by the loss.
2) The UFC asked Werdum to renegotiate after that fight and he refused (rightfully so I believe, just b/c he lost doesn't mean he isn't entitled to the money they agreed to pay him).
from about 1 month ago
Although I don't necessarily agree with it, the way UFC contracts are worded is that they can get rid of a fighter at any time during the contract for any reason (remember Kalib?)
It doesn't work the other way. If a fighter signs a six fight contract they have to fight all six with the UFC (or retire). They can't walk away for more money at Affliction after three fights (remember Couture?)
about 1 month ago
This is MMA. A lucky punch can't knock out any one at any time. Had Werdum met the same fate twice in a row, maybe I'd take a closer look.
The bottom line is: Chuck Liddell can lose big three-times in a row, but Dana will happily look the other way, so long as Chuck's name is still earning big. When chuck's well runs dry (and it's near dry now), watch how fast Dana tosses him in the dumpster like a neighborhood bookie who stiffed a local mob boss once too often.
about 1 month ago
"can" knock out
about 1 month ago
This is a business Joseph. If a fighter's popularity, marketability and fighting ability have all declined, than they can no longer significantly contribute to a company. If Liddell suffers another loss and loses even more credibility, it's not indecent for the UFC to sever ties, it's business. Liddell has made millions of dollars throughout career and if he can no longer perform at a high level then of course hes expendable.
Fabricio Werdum is an entirely different situation than Liddell. Although there is a huge disparity in name recognition, Werdum is still relatively young and one of the better heavyweights in the world. Getting rid of him was a huge mistake and it thinned an already depleted division.
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