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Fabrício Werdum. Photo by MartialArtsNomad.com.

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Fabrício Werdum

Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Fabricio Werdum is one of the most skilled BJJ practitioners in history, and there are a lot of fans should know about him.

Fabricio Werdum is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion who has competed for a variety of organizations over the years. He’s fought for the UFC, Pride, Strike force, and the Professional Fighters League most recently. He’s lost nine of his thirty-five fights, but when you look at the names he’s lost to, they may not be that significant.

The man has defeated MMA legends in spectacular fashion, but many of his most impressive victories have come as a result of his extensive submission skills. The skilled Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner should never be underestimated, and fans should learn everything they can about him.

1. He began training after becoming a victim of a triangle choke

Everyone has a different story about how they got into MMA. Some people get into it as a form of therapy, others for hero worship, but Werdum got into it after being choked out by his then-ex-boyfriend girlfriend’s with a triangle choke.

Nobody likes to lose a fight, and it appears that Werdum made the decision that he would never let something like that happen again. Given how quickly Werdum rose to prominence in BJJ, it’s a safe bet that his attacker avoided Werdum.

2. Fabrício Werdum is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Champion

Two men playing Jiu-Jitsu. Photo by Jonathan Borba.

Werdum, like many of the most skilled Brazilian MMA fighters, began his career with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Werdum, like many others before him, excelled in BJJ competition, winning numerous medals.

He has nearly twenty medals from various forms of competition, thirteen of which are from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at various belt levels. Even more impressive, eight of those thirteen medals are gold, making him a formidable opponent. Anyone competing in BJJ between 2000 and 2004 faced some stiff competition.

3. Fabrcio Werdum made his UFC debut on April 21, 2007 

Fabrcio Werdum. Photo by Mike Dunn.

He lost a unanimous decision to former UFC Heavyweight Champion Andrei Arlovski. He began training at the Chute Boxe Academy in Brazil, where he became more aggressive and improved his striking, particularly in Muay Thai attacks.

Werdum faced Gabriel Gonzaga in a rematch at UFC 80 on January 19, 2008. Werdum won the fight via TKO. He withstood an early barrage of punches before securing the Muay Thai clinch and connecting with several knee strikes before taking Gonzaga to the ground and finishing him with punches.

4. Werdum signed Strike force in 2009

Werdum signed with Strike force after leaving the UFC. On 15 August 2009, he made his UFC debut against fellow veteran Mike “MAK” Kyle at Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg. In the first round, he won by submission at 1:24. Werdum then won a unanimous decision over Antônio “Bigfoot” Silva at Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers.

5. He was not informed that he had been released from the UFC

Fabrcio Werdum. Photo by MartialArtsNomad.com.

Communication within a large corporation can be difficult even in the best of circumstances. While everyone will have their own opinions on some of UFC’s business decisions over the years, it’s a little fishy that Werdum wasn’t aware he’d been let go.

He apparently went so far as to say that rumors about his dismissal from the UFC were false. Unfortunately, his contract was terminated, but it’s safe to say that it was the best thing that could have happened to Werdum.

6. Werdum was the first man in years to defeat Emelianenko

Fedor Emelianenko was an absolute beast in his prime, as any MMA fan will know. Fabricio was the first and only man to submit Emelianenko, despite having previously lost to Werdum.

Fedor’s only loss prior to Werdum was mired in controversy to the point where most of his fans disputed the nature of the loss. Werdum is regarded as Fedor’s first true defeat in what could have been a competitive fight had it not ended in less than a minute.

7. Fabrício Werdum suffered a disappointing loss

Almost every fighter must concede defeat at some point during their career. While many losses are the result of a mistake or bad luck, others become extremely contentious. Fortunately for Werdum, a bout that would have been ruled a loss was eventually overturned due to the unusual circumstances involved.

Werdum had his opponent in a triangle choke, which the man tapped out to, but the referee missed it. His opponent was then able to finish Werdum, giving him the victory. The whole thing was in shambles, but the decision was eventually reversed to a no-contest. 

8. He once assisted in the rescue of a drowning person

Woman drowning. Photo by engin akyurt.

There have been a few instances where MMA fighters have become real-life heroes to those around them. Werdum had one of these moments when he helped save someone who was about to drown.

It appears that some teenagers were drowning near Werdum’s home on a California beach. He jumped into action, along with a lifeguard, to help the teenagers, and everything appears to have ended happily. Werdum is a hero, regardless of your feelings about him.

9. He received a two-year suspension after failing a drug test 

Specimen for a drug test. Photo by National Cancer Institute.

Werdum tested positive for trenbolone and its metabolite epitrenbolone in an out-of-competition urine test on April 25, 2018, according to the US Anti-Doping Agency. Werdum’s suspension started on May 22, when he was provisionally suspended by USADA, the organization in charge of the UFC’s anti-doping program.

The positive test disqualified the ex-champion from the main event of that weekend’s UFC Fight Night 136 in Moscow, Russia. Werdum was scheduled to fight Aleksei Oliynyk on September 15th. Mark Hunt took his place.

10. Werdum is currently teaching at his school

Werdum was Mirko Filipovi’s Brazilian jiu-jitsu coach until November 2006, and he is affiliated with Team Werdum BJJ Academy in Zagreb, Croatia. Werdum worked as a BJJ head coach for the Barcelo Boxing Gym in Madrid, Spain, from 2004 to 2008. Werdum is currently a member of King’s MMA. 

Werdum is currently teaching at his new school, Werdum Combat Team, in Venice, California.