Werdum Gets Title Shot in Writing, Predicts Wins for Couture and Nogueira

Fighters.com’s fifth-ranked heavyweight “Vai Cavalo” Fabricio Werdum (11-3-1) confirmed to Tatame that he will fight “Cigano” Junior dos Santos (6-1) 25 October in Chicago, but adds, “[The UFC] should have put “Cigano”, who is a newcomer in the event, to face [Brock] Lesnar, who only has one fight in UFC.”

Lesnar has two fights in the UFC with a 1-1 record in the Octagon.

Werdum TKO’d “The Truth” Brandon Vera (9-2) in the first round in London 7 June after TKOing eighth-ranked “Napao” Gabriel Gonzaga (9-3) in the second round in Newcastle 19 January; but, the UFC skipped over him twice to match Frank Mir (11-3) versus interim UFC titlist second-ranked “Minotauro” Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-4-1) and Brock Lesnar (2-1) versus returning UFC Heavyweight Champion sixth-ranked “The Natural” Randy Couture (16-8).

“Ultimate thinks about business, and Lesnar is more famous in United States,” explained Werdum of the Couture versus Lesnar match-up announced just last week.

UFC President Dana White also announced last week that the winners of the two match-ups will fight each other for the title.  And, to further complicate the possibilities, White is pursuing a match-up between Couture and Fighters.com’s Heavyweight Champion “Last Emperor” Fedor Emelianenko (28-1).

But, “Vai Cavalo” had his title shot put in writing.

Werdum claimed, “I don’t know how they’ll do it, because my new contract guarantees a title shot with a victory against “Cigano”.”

Fighters.com hopes there’s a time frame specified in Werdum’s contract or he might start planning his vacation while the UFC overlooks him, possibly through next summer, while the four better-marketed fighters contend for the UFC belt and Emelianenko is wooed into the Octagon.

Werdum thinks Couture and Nog’ will eventually settle the UFC title mess.

He said, “Nogueira will certainly defeat Frank Mir and Couture will beat Lesnar.  The “big” Lesnar won’t make it.  Couture will use a good strategy to get him tired and will win on the last round.  I can’t see him winning.  Couture has a lot more experience and Lesnar is like a white-belt there.”

Werdum’s next challenge, dos Santos, TKO’d Geronimo Mondragon (1-5) in Salvador 24 May, but tapped in an armbar to “Mamute” Joaquim Ferreira (6-2) in São Paulo 10 November.