Fabricio Werdum appears poised to close the door on a legendary MMA career.
Werdum (24-9-1), a former UFC heavyweight champion, is seriously considering retirement from MMA competition after consistently competing since his debut in June 2002.
The 44-year-old hasn’t fought since May, where he fought to a no contest with Renan Fereira under the PFL banner. Werdum appeared to force his opponent to tap out with a choke, but when he released the submission and the referee didn’t wave it off, he absorbed some heavy strikes that knocked him out. He was originally declared the loser, but appealed the result, which was overturned.
Keeping a commitment to fighting has been historically easy for Werdum, but since moving back to his native Brazil in early 2021, the dedication to training camp has been a struggle. Now he’s debating whether it’s worth it at all, as he explained in a recent interview with AG Fight.
“It’s a bit complicated to say that to a fighter after 24 years of fighting,” Werdum said (H/T MMAFighting.com). “Even my wife keeps telling me to say I’m retired, that I’m done. I tell her I won’t say it.”
On Tuesday, the PFL announced the roster for its upcoming 2022 season. Werdum wasn’t one of the names included, adding more evidence to the notion he is moving away from active competition.
Werdum, who owns notable stoppage victories over Fedor Emelianenko, Cain Velasquez, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, Alistair Overeem, Mark Hunt and more during his career, said it would take an irresistible offer to get back in the cage at this point in his life.
He left the door open for the possibility of a box match, because the preparation is less strenuous, but as far as MMA, Werdum said the stars would have to align perfectly.
“Talking about MMA, I think it’s hard for me to come back because it’s more dedication, staying two, three months in the United States, and I’m living in Brazil for a year and three months now,” Werdum said. “If there’s a boxing match, I’d do it. … To sum it up: boxing, yes. MMA, no. It would need to be an out-of-this-world offer to make me stop doing what I’ve been doing right now.”