It’s surprisingly easy to forget amongst the JDS/Mark Hunt/Overeem race to the Cain Velasquez prize that Fabricio Werdum and Big Nog are just as much in the mix as anyone in the heavyweight division. Werdum has been riding his impressive two-fight win streak in which he absolutely dominated his foes — Roy Nelson and Mike Russow and his last loss was against Overeem, a man many forget Werdum defeated in Pride already. It’s been a long time since the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix quarterfinals, and it’s apparent by his performances in the UFC that Werdum has been studying with much fervor with Master Cordeiro, because he’s evolved from just a BJJ player, he’s an all-around player now. One who has already defeated Bigfoot Silva, a man who faces Cain for his belt next, and granted, someone who JDS knocked out violently back in 2008 at Big Nog already defeated in Pride back in the day.
Werdum and Big Nog are opposing coaches in Brazil’s second season of The Ultimate Fighter, and the winner is likely to be thrust right into top contention once the Bigfoot/Cain fight shakes itself out. Werdum though, doesn’t even want it to be up for discussion, he wants a title shot once he defeats Nog at UFC on Fuel TV 10 (his words, kinda). See below.
“My focus now is Nogueira fight first. After I beat him, I know it’s so difficult a fight, but I’m training a lot for this fight. After then, I don’t’ know who will be the owner of the belt. But, I want the belt. Maybe ‘Bigfoot,’ Dos Santos, Cain Velasquez, it don’t matter, I want the belt.”
