UFC contender Fabricio Werdum willing to wait for Velasquez-JDS winner

With three straight wins since his return to the organization, UFC heavyweight contender Fabricio Werdum is apparently willing to wait for a title shot he feels he deserves.

That could mean Werdum (17-5-1 MMA, 5-2 UFC), who most recently fought in June and submitted Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, could be on the sidelines until 2014.

According to Tuesday’s edition of “UFC Tonight” and reporter Ariel Helwani, Werdum is willing to sit and wait in hopes he fights the winner of October’s UFC 166 main event. There, heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez (12-1 MMA, 10-1 UFC) and ex-titleholder Junior dos Santos (16-2 MMA, 10-1 UFC) meet in a rubber match that headlines the stacked pay-per-view lineup.

Werdum, who’s ranked No. 5 in the USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie.com MMA heavyweight rankings, certainly has a case. But so, too, would the winner of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 26 co-headliner between No. 4 Alistair Overeem (36-12 MMA, 1-1 UFC) and No. 10 Travis Browne (14-1-1 MMA, 5-1-1 UFC). Additionally, No. 6 Josh Barnett (32-6 MMA, 4-1 UFC) meets No. 9 Frank Mir (16-7 MMA, 14-7 UFC) later this month in a UFC 164 bout that will have a major impact on the division.

If Werdum gets the title shot, though, it could set up a rematch. Although he has no history with Velasquez, Werdum suffered an 81-second knockout loss to dos Santos at UFC 90 in 2008. He’s been eager to avenge the defeat, which is one of only two he’s suffered in the past six years.

After his win over “Big Nog” earlier this summer, Werdum campaigned for a fight Velasquez before UFC 166 was booked, and he also wanted a bout with Daniel Cormier.

With neither possibility coming to fruition, he’s now apparently ready to sit and wait for his shot at the belt.

For the latest on UFC 166 and rest of the UFC’s upcoming schedule, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.