PFL’s 2022 heavyweight season might go on without one of its biggest names.
Former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum is unsure if he’ll compete next season for the 2022 PFL heavyweight title and the $1 million prize that comes with winning the final. The Brazilian star wants to revise his contract and get a new proposal from PFL in order to return to the PFL cage.
“I need to make a decision still,” Werdum told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “I need to speak to my wife first because she wants me to stop (fighting). I’m 44 years old, so she wants me to stop and we’re doing well in Brazil and running a lot of things.”
Werdum (24-9-1) moved back to Brazil from California, as he wanted to get back to his roots and expose his two young daughters to the Brazilian culture since they had lived most of their lives in the U.S. He moved to Florianopolis and started two businesses – Werdum Premium Meats and Werdum sports. Two ventures that are taking plenty of his time.
“So I have the meat business, I also have a clothing brand – Werdum Sports – I have the YouTube channel, and I’m an ambassador for PFL here in Brazil,” Werdum said. “So I have a lot of things going on. It needs to be worth it for me to stop everything and go fight again because I would need to go back to the U.S. because my team is in Los Angeles in Kings MMA.
“I can train here and start the training camp, but I would need to leave my family and go back to the U.S. to do the actual camp. I don’t want to think about the money only, I need to have all my focus on winning. So I don’t know if it’ll be worth it now that I’m 44 years old. That needs to be decided. I need to speak to PFL and see if we come to an agreement, so I can fight again.”
Werdum joined the PFL in late 2020. He participated in the 2021 PFL heavyweight season, but only fought once and had to withdraw. Werdum had a no contest ruling in his debut in May against Renan Ferreira. It was originally a TKO win for Ferreira, but the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board overturned the decision due to the controversial stoppage.
Werdum was then supposed to fight Brandon Sayles in June, but withdrew as he wasn’t medically cleared according to the promotion. Since then, Werdum has been sitting on the sidelines.
Werdum is happy with PFL and says it’s the best treatment he’s received from any promotion he’s competed in his 20 years as a professional fighter. The Brazilian feels he’s not done just yet, but isn’t committed to a return.
“Yeah, yeah, I think so (I will come back),” Werdum said. “A good proposal where I know I have to go back to the U.S. with Rafael Cordeiro, and I need to be there two months focused. If the proposal is worth it, I’ll fight again for sure. If not I’ll continue to do what I do.”