Now Healthy, Werdum Eyes Fight in Japan or Abu Dhabi

Fabricio Werdum (left) vs. Fedor Emelianenko: Dave Mandel | Sherdog.com

After his amazing submission win over Fedor Emelianenko, Fabricio Werdum is reaping the rewards.

Right after he turned in his "Submission of the Year" frontrunner against Emelianenko, Werdum had surgery on his left elbow. The rehabilitation period gave him some time off that he used wisely, deciding to go on a world seminar tour.

“Since I couldn't start training in the month after the surgery, I found that giving seminars was a great way to start my recovery little by little. I couldn’t make a better choice," said the heavyweight grappling star.

The BJJ and ADCC world champion has spent the last 30 days traveling around the world and teaching: Bourdeaux in France, Zagreb in Croatia, Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, and Tokyo in Japan. Werdum also returned to the country he called home for several years, Spain, and gave seminars in Madrid, Sevilha, Malaga and Zaragoza.

“My main concern during all those seminars was showing a new guard system for MMA that I developed," he elaborated. "Today, most jiu-jitsu guys, while on the bottom, just close the guard and receive hard punishment. With the experience I've got in MMA plus the jiu-jitsu knowledge I've got from top guys like Sylvio Behring, Marcio Corleta, Mario Reis, Otavio 'Ratinho' [Couto] and Renato 'Babalu' [Sobral], I developed a new guard system that makes it really hard for someone on top to hit me."

"It's really impressive, I can tell you that I don’t take one single punch to my face using that system," Werdum guaranteed.

Two months removed from his surgery, "Vai Cavalo" said he is now 100 percent healthy and ready to start MMA training again.

“I used this trip to make a couple of good contacts in Abu Dhabi and Japan. Strikeforce want me to return in March against Fedor [Emelianenko] or [Alistair] Overeem, but I'm looking forward to having a fight before that one. I don’t have an exclusive contract with Strikeforce, only for the U.S., and I got a nice proposal in Abu Dhabi and another one in Japan," explained Werdum, who plans to begin working out with trainer Rafael Cordeiro this week.

“I've got my last professional commitment in New York. By next week, I'll be back helping 'Babalu' and Fernando Bettega who will fight for Strikeforce on Dec. 4. My arm is 100 percent now and I feel that by February, I'll be ready to fight in Abu Dhabi or Japan."