MMA heavyweight legend Fabrizio Werdum has signed a contract to compete in the Professional Fighters League. The 43-year old Kings MMA product has a UFC heavyweight title to his record along with a series of grappling championship medals dating back to his days competing in the Pan-American Games and the Abu Dhabi Combat Club with garnered success.
BREAKING: @FabricioWerdum has joined the 2021 PFL Heavyweight Division! pic.twitter.com/mHP2yZMP9I
— PFL (@PFLMMA) November 16, 2020
With the decorated credibility that Werdum brings to the table, age is just a number for one of the most versatile scrappers in the game. Holding black belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo and Muay Thai makes him a deadly threat, if not deadlier in the heavyweight division. The PFL is currently on hiatus due to the novel coronavirus pandemic but is gunning an April 2021 relaunch.
Putting Werdum on a fight card would make a big difference in utilizing their improved roster depth. He can also help bring fans into the venues when the pandemic slows down as purist fans would appreciate all that he has done in the sport.
Per ESPN, PFL CEO Peter Murray was excited to address his latest signing of the newly acquired legend boasting a 24-9-1 MMA record.
“I am honored to welcome Fabricio Werdum, one of the best heavyweight MMA fighters of all time, to Professional Fighters League,” Murray said. “Our 2021 season roster is stacked with top fighters from around the world, including Fabricio, who are all gearing up for what will be an epic season starting this April on ESPN.”
He also addressed the rest of the media further about the acquisition, going as far as showering him with a compliment that may go without saying. As far as his credibility in combat sports goes, he may be considered one of the greatest of all time.
“Fabricio is one of the greatest heavyweights of all time and knows when he steps into the PFL cage this coming season, it is more than a fight. The PFL sport season format provides an opportunity to control his destiny, like all PFL fighters, with a transparent shot to earn another major global title and the PFL million-dollar champions belt.”
Werdum’s last victory came in July over Alexander Gustafsson via first-round submission. That closed the chapter on his UFC tenure, making him a free agent. His most memorable win came five years earlier with a submission win over Cain Velasquez to clinch the UFC Heavyweight Championship at UFC 188 in June 2015. He also holds notable wins over Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira, Mark Hunt, and Roy Nelson. During his days in Strikeforce, he submitted the mighty Fedor Emelianenko ending a 28-fight unbeaten streak.
As for the return of the PFL, they are shooting for an April 2021 restart with events also to be scheduled on ESPN 2.
