Ever since his last StrikeForce win, when he beat Antonio “Pezao” Silva in November of 2009, Fabricio Werdum has been awaiting confirmation from the organization that he will in fact face Fedor Emelianenko, the greatest heavyweight in MMA history. The fighter has finally received his much-awaited response. In an article on MMAWeekly.com, StrikeForce president Scott Coker confirmed the matchup for the end of June.
Werdum will face Fedor. Photo: Esther Lin
Werdum was already talking about the fight in issue # 83 of NOCAUTE magazine. At the time he commented on his strategy for dealing with the Russian.
“I’ll be fine on bottom or on top. But, of course, my strategy would be to get the takedown and control him from the top looking to finish. I’m working a lot on my wrestling with King Mo. I can handle myself on bottom, but he hits hard and a solid punch could end the fight. So it would be best to be on top,” said the black belt, without hiding his respect for his upcoming opponent.
“He’s the best in the world and I respect him a lot. He’s the man, good on the ground, good on top and a warrior. It’s never too rough for him. But I think my time has come. A lot of people have already faced him and I have that right, too. Although many don’t believe it, I think I can beat him. It will be a war, but I can do it.”
Hard task, but not impossible. The only one to manage the feat in the Russian’s 32-fight career was Tsuyoshi Kosaka, with a technical knockout due to doctor’s intervention in 2000. However, Kosaka paid dearly for it in 2005, losing the rematch in the very same way.