Ex-champ Fabricio Werdum still thinks he should be next in line for title: 'I deserve this'

BOSTON – It’s not like Fabricio Werdum was ever secretive about his desire to get a new stab at the UFC’s heavyweight belt. But he won’t mind making that case once more.

Werdum was in attendance at TD Garden in Boston, where champ Stipe Miocic (18-2 MMA, 12-2 UFC) dominated heavy-hitter Francis Ngannou en route to a clear unanimous decision win in UFC 220’s headliner. It was the record-breaking third defense of a title that Miocic captured from Werdum (23-7-1 MMA, 11-4 UFC) in 2016.

Werdum has been trying to get himself back in title contention since. And while there was a slip-up there, when Alistair Overeem narrowly bested him in a UFC 213 encounter, his will never wavered. On Saturday, two wins removed from the loss, he re-stated his case.

“The UFC said nothing yet, but I think I’m the next one,” Werdum told reporters backstage. “I deserve this. Not just because of my last fights. But (I’ve been fighting) for 20 years. I’ve (been fighting) for a long. I think I deserve it. My goal is to put one more belt on my wall. I have two. The third one (is) coming, for sure.”

Werdum’s chat backstage was before the night’s headliner. But, predictably, what happened didn’t change his mind. In fact, the Brazilian heavyweight went a bit further speaking to TSN afterward.

“100 percent, I will be a champion this year again …” Werdum said. “I know Stipe Miocic. I respect him. I like him. He doesn’t say nothing like bad things. He’s a nice guy, for sure. But, 100 percent: When I fought him before, I (lost). I lost (to) myself. I lost (to) me. Because of a lot of things. This time – 100 percent, he’s a good fighter. But 100 percent, I beat him. I saw this today. I’m feeling this.”

As he’s stated, Werdum believes that his career, rather than his latest results, should be the thing to warrant him a title shot. But the results, as it turns out, aren’t too bad either. Since the quick knockout loss to Miocic at UFC 198, which took place in Werdum’s home turf of Curitiba, his sole loss was the majority decision to Overeem.

He’s now on a two-fight winning streak. The first was under unique conditions: Werdum was originally set to meet Derrick Lewis at UFC 216, but, after Lewis fell ill on the day of the fight, Walt Harris stepped in. Werdum scored a quick submission – which he followed up with a unanimous decision over Marcin Tybura last November.

Werdum says he has a meeting with UFC president Dana White scheduled for Jan. 29 – one in which the former titleholder hopes only to discuss only “good things.”

“This year, 2018, I want to see everything,” Werdum said. “I want to train a lot to be a champion again. I don’t just fight for fighting. I’ve proved it before. I got (the title) two times. The first time, vs. Mark Hunt, was like an interim belt. But, for me, it’s the same thing.”

Who knows, maybe that chat will define the next heavyweight title challenger. But, at least judging by White’s own post-fight chat with TSN, it’s not yet a given that Werdum is it.

“Well… We’ll see what happens,” White said. “I don’t make fights the night of the fight. I’m sure that’s how he feels and we’ll see how this thing plays out.”

To hear from Werdum, check out the video above.

And for complete coverage of UFC 220, check out the UFC Events section of the site.