Fabricio Werdum Uncertain If He’ll Fight On After Current UFC Deal Ends

Fabricio Werdum hasn’t stepped inside the Octagon in over two years. The former UFC heavyweight champion signed his current eight-fight contract back in June 2015, after submitting Cain Velasquez to win the undisputed title. The contract currently has two fights left on it.

The first of which comes this weekend, when the Brazilian faces Alexey Oleynik at UFC 249, after returning from his two year USADA suspension. This will leave Werdum with only one fight remaining on his UFC contract.

Talking to MMA Fighting, Werdum opened up on the various possibilities for him after the end of his current contract.

“My goal now is to do this fight, and I’ll have one more in my contract,” Werdum said. “I don’t know yet if I’ll re-sign, I don’t have this decision 100 percent made in my head. I might re-sign a few more fights to be able to end my career or retire after these two and continue only as a commentator. I have many options in my head. I haven’t decided 100 percent yet. My focus is on this fight and then I’ll see what I’ll do.”

Whatever he decides, it will be a joint decision with his family.

“I’ll talk to my family and my wife, we make decisions together. She wants me to stop after these two; she thinks it’s good already. It will all depend on the victories, the way the fights go. But we’ll see. Maybe I’ll just continue as a commentator for the UFC, something I really like doing.”

One thing Werdum is sure of however, is that his fight with Oleynik at UFC 249 won’t be his last.

“I will fight the contract I have, I have two more fights, and then we’ll decide,” Werdum said. “We’ll re-sign, or we’ll retire. I’ll see. But there’s no chance this is my last, no.”

And with the USADA suspension behind him, Werdum is looking to make up for the ‘lost time’. Even suggesting that he could fight again on the UFC’s May 13th or 16th cards.

“If I can fight again on the 13th or the 16th, I’ll do it. Let’s make up for lost time. Let’s see if we can do it,” Werdum said.

“I’ve done that before at ADCC 2003. I took Mark Kerr [to Sao Paulo] and ended up fighting as well, placing second in the [+99kg] division and third in the absolute. If there’s an opening on the 13th, I’ll stay there (in Florida). I’ll commentate the May 16th UFC card from the studio in Los Angeles, but if I had to cancel that to fight, I’d fight.”

How do you think Fabricio Werdum will do on his return to the Octagon against Alexey Oleynik at UFC 249?


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