Fabrício Werdum (; born 30 July 1977) is a Spanish-Brazilian
mixed martial artist
Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting sport based on striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world.
In the early 20th century, various inter-stylistic contests took place t ...
and former
UFC Heavyweight Champion who competes in the
Heavyweight
Heavyweight is a weight class in combat sports and professional wrestling.
Boxing Professional
Male boxers who weigh over are considered heavyweights by 2 of the 4 major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation an ...
division.
He is also a 4-time
Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion, a two-time
Abu Dhabi Combat Club
The ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship is an international submission wrestling, submission grappling competition, organised by the Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC). ADCC is considered one of the most prestigious No-Gi submission grappling tou ...
World Heavyweight Champion and a member of the
ADCC Hall of Fame. He holds
black belts in
Brazilian jiu-jitsu,
Judo
is an unarmed gendai budō, modern Japanese martial art, combat sport, Olympic sport (since 1964), and the most prominent form of jacket wrestling competed internationally.『日本大百科全書』電子版【柔道】(CD-ROM version of Encyc ...
,
and
Muay Thai
Muay Thai or Muaythai (, , ), sometimes referred to as Thai boxing, the Art of Eight Limbs or the Science of Eight Limbs, is a Thai martial art and full-contact combat sport that uses stand-up striking, sweeps, and various clinch fighting, cl ...
. Werdum has competed in
PRIDE
Pride is a human Emotion, secondary emotion characterized by a sense of satisfaction with one's Identity (philosophy), identity, performance, or accomplishments. It is often considered the opposite of shame or of humility and, depending on conte ...
, the
UFC
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. The larg ...
,
Strikeforce
Strike Force may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Games
*Strike Force (video game), ''Strike Force'' (video game), a 1991 arcade game
*''Commandos: Strike Force'', a 2006 video game
*''Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce'', a 2009 video game
*' ...
, and
Jungle Fight.
At the time of his departure from the UFC, Werdum was #14 in the
UFC heavyweight rankings.
Early life and education
Born in
Porto Alegre
Porto Alegre (, ; , ; ) is the capital and largest city of the Brazilian Federative units of Brazil, state of Rio Grande do Sul. Its population of roughly 1.4 million inhabitants (2022) makes it the List of largest cities in Brazil, 11th-most p ...
, Werdum started training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu after being choked unconscious with a
triangle choke
A triangle choke, or sankaku-jime (三角絞) in judo, is a type of figure-four chokehold that encircles the opponent's neck and one arm with the legs in a configuration similar to the shape of a triangle. Applying pressure using both legs and ...
by the ex-boyfriend of his girlfriend. He trained with Marcio Corleta at the Porto Alegre Academy, Winner Behring. After success in competitive Brazilian jiu-jitsu and
submission grappling
Submission wrestling, also known as submission grappling, submission fighting, or simply grappling, is a martial art and combat sport that focuses on ground fighting and submission techniques. It is a hybrid discipline that incorporates eleme ...
, he started his career in MMA. He moved to
Spain
Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...
to join his mother, who had been living in
Madrid
Madrid ( ; ) is the capital and List of largest cities in Spain, most populous municipality of Spain. It has almost 3.5 million inhabitants and a Madrid metropolitan area, metropolitan area population of approximately 7 million. It i ...
. As a purple belt, he started teaching the art of Brazilian jiu-jitsu in Madrid and other cities of Spain. Despite only training with white and blue belts, he became a BJJ World Champion, being promoted to the rank of black belt by Master Sylvio Behring three years later.
From 2003 to 2011, Werdum's incomplete submission grappling record was 32 wins and 13 losses across 9 international tournaments. Competing at 99+ kg, he won first place at the ADCC World Championships in 2007 and 2009, second place at the ADCC World Championships in 2011, first place at the World IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championships in 2003 and 2004, second place at the Pan American Jiu-Jitsu Championships in 2003, and second place at the CBJJO World Jiu-Jitsu Cup in 2003.
BJJ Heroes: Fabricio Werdum.
Accessed August 31, 2024.
Mixed martial arts career
Werdum's early fights were with the promotions Jungle Fight, Millennium Brawl, and World Absolute Fight. He boasted a 4–0–1 record, including a win against BJJ specialist Gabriel Gonzaga
Gabriel Gonzaga Santos Nogueira (; born 18 May 1979) is a Brazilian former professional Mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist, Submission grappling, submission grappler and 5th degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) Brazilian jiu-jitsu ranking syst ...
. He was Mirko Filipović’s sparring partner at that time and the Croat was the main reason for his debut in PRIDE.
PRIDE Fighting Championships
In 2005, Werdum made his PRIDE debut against Tom Erikson, winning by submission
Deference (also called submission or passivity) is the condition of submitting to the espoused, legitimate influence of one's superior or superiors. Deference implies a yielding or submitting to the judgment of a recognized superior, out of re ...
. Later that year he faced Roman Zentsov
Roman Zentsov (, ) (born September 10, 1973 in Bryansk) is a retired Russian heavyweight mixed martial arts fighter who has competed in the PRIDE Fighting Championships, a major MMA organization based in Japan, and BodogFIGHT. Zentsov has an overa ...
in PRIDE Final Conflict 2005, he was able to defeat Zentsov by a triangle choke in 6:01 of the first round. Werdum then had the first loss in his MMA career, when he lost to Sergei Kharitonov via split decision in PRIDE 30. Then in early 2006, Werdum defeated Jon Olav Einemo by unanimous decision in PRIDE 31.
He accumulated a record of 3–1 in PRIDE before entering the 2006 Pride Open Weight Grand Prix. His first match of the tournament was against Dutch fighter Alistair Overeem
Alistair Cees Overeem (born 17 May 1980) is a Dutch former professional mixed martial artist and kickboxer. He is a former Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion, Dream Heavyweight Champion, K-1 World Grand Prix Champion, and was the first fight ...
, and he won via kimura in the second round. He then faced former PRIDE Heavyweight Champion, Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira
Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira (, born 2 June 1976), better known as Minotauro or Big Nog, is a Brazilian retired mixed martial artist. He competed in the heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is a former Inter ...
in the quarter-finals, losing via decision.
Werdum then had a short stint in 2 Hot 2 Handle, facing Alexander Emelianenko in a Heavyweight bout, and beating the Russian by submission via triangle choke
A triangle choke, or sankaku-jime (三角絞) in judo, is a type of figure-four chokehold that encircles the opponent's neck and one arm with the legs in a configuration similar to the shape of a triangle. Applying pressure using both legs and ...
armbar
An armlock in grappling is a single or double joint lock that hyperextends, hyperflexes or hyperrotates the elbow joint or shoulder joint. An armpit lock is very useful; it will immobilize an opponent and pin them on the ground. An armlock t ...
combination.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Fabrício Werdum debuted in the UFC
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority owned subsidiary of Endeavor Group Holdings. The larg ...
on 21 April 2007 at UFC 70: Nations Collide. He faced former UFC Heavyweight Champion Andrei Arlovski, losing via unanimous decision. He began to train in Brazil at Chute Boxe Academy, becoming more aggressive and showing improvement in his striking, particularly in Muay Thai
Muay Thai or Muaythai (, , ), sometimes referred to as Thai boxing, the Art of Eight Limbs or the Science of Eight Limbs, is a Thai martial art and full-contact combat sport that uses stand-up striking, sweeps, and various clinch fighting, cl ...
attacks.
At UFC 80
''UFC 80: Rapid Fire'' was a mixed martial arts (MMA) event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), that took place on January 19, 2008 at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle, United Kingdom.
Background
The main event was originally sc ...
on 19 January 2008, Werdum met Gabriel Gonzaga
Gabriel Gonzaga Santos Nogueira (; born 18 May 1979) is a Brazilian former professional Mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist, Submission grappling, submission grappler and 5th degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) Brazilian jiu-jitsu ranking syst ...
in a rematch. Werdum won the bout by TKO. He weathered an early striking onslaught only to secure the Muay Thai clinch and connect with several knee strikes
A knee strike (commonly referred to simply as a knee) is a strike (attack), strike with the knee, either with the kneecap or the surrounding area. Kneeing is a disallowed practice in many combat sports, especially to the head of a downed opponent. ...
before taking Gonzaga to the ground and finishing him with punches.
Werdum's next fight was against Brandon Vera
Brandon Michael Vera (born October 10, 1977), or also known by his ring name as The Truth, is a Filipino and American retired mixed martial artist where he was the inaugural ONE Heavyweight Champion and the 2005 WEC Heavyweight Grand Prix Champ ...
at UFC 85
''UFC 85: Bedlam'' was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) on June 7, 2008, at The O2 Arena in London, United Kingdom.
Background
The card was plagued by a number of injuries sustained by scheduled fight ...
. He defeated Vera by TKO in the 1st round. Werdum achieved full mount with less than 30 seconds to go in the round and connected with a number of unanswered punches. The decision to stop the bout was booed due to the small amount of time remaining in the round, although the official time of stoppage was 4:40.
In his next fight at UFC 90, Werdum was heavily favored to win but was knocked out in 1:20 of the first round via uppercut by debuting Junior dos Santos
Junior dos Santos (; born 30 January 1984) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist and former professional wrestler who competes in the Heavyweight division. He is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion and current Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA Heavyweigh ...
. After the loss Werdum's contract was terminated by the UFC. Since Werdum was not contacted directly about the termination he had no idea he had been cut and initially denied the news of him no longer being in the UFC as just a rumor.
Strikeforce
After leaving the UFC Werdum then signed with Strikeforce
Strike Force may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Games
*Strike Force (video game), ''Strike Force'' (video game), a 1991 arcade game
*''Commandos: Strike Force'', a 2006 video game
*''Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce'', a 2009 video game
*' ...
. He made his debut at Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg on 15 August 2009, against fellow UFC veteran Mike "MAK" Kyle. He won by submission in 1:24 of the first round. Werdum followed that up with a unanimous decision victory over Antônio "Bigfoot" Silva at Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers.
Werdum faced former Pride Heavyweight Champion Fedor Emelianenko on 26 June 2010, at Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Werdum. In an enormous upset victory, Werdum forced Fedor to tap via triangle/armbar 1:09 into the first round.[Fedor "The Last Emperor" Emelianenko MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography, and More – Sherdog.co](_blank)
while propelling Werdum's status up the Heavyweight rankings. He was ranked as the third-best Heavyweight in MMA by Sherdog.com, Sherdog">– Strikeforce Fedor vs Werdum Results – Fedor Emelianenko Taps Out to Fabricio Werdum – Bloody Elbow
Sherdog.com. The victory ended Emelianenko's 28-fight unbeaten streak while propelling Werdum's status up the Heavyweight rankings. He was ranked as the third-best Heavyweight in MMA by Sherdog.com, Sherdog
.
The victory over Fedor also gave him the distinction of being the only man to hold victories over both of the Emelianenko brothers.
A rematch with Alistair Overeem
Alistair Cees Overeem (born 17 May 1980) is a Dutch former professional mixed martial artist and kickboxer. He is a former Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion, Dream Heavyweight Champion, K-1 World Grand Prix Champion, and was the first fight ...
took place on 18 June 2011, at Strikeforce: Dallas as part of an eight-man Heavyweight Tournament. Werdum lost to Overeem by unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, and 29–28). He has received some criticism for "pleading" Overeem to fight him on the ground in order to get into a position favorable to him due to his Brazilian jiu-jitsu background.
Ultimate Fighting Championship return
On 8 November 2011, Werdum made his return to the UFC via contract-signing. It was speculated that his return fight might be against Brendan Schaub, a fight he expressed an interest in. The bout, however, did not materialize.
Instead, for his return match, Werdum faced Roy Nelson at UFC 143 on 4 February 2012. He won the fight via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, and 30–27). The back and forth action earned ''Fight of the Night'' honors.
Werdum next faced Mike Russow on 23 June 2012, at UFC 147. Werdum won the match against Russow in the first-round via TKO.
Werdum coached opposite Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira
Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira (, born 2 June 1976), better known as Minotauro or Big Nog, is a Brazilian retired mixed martial artist. He competed in the heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is a former Inter ...
on the second season of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil. The two met in a rematch at the conclusion of the season, on 8 June 2013, at UFC on Fuel TV: Nogueira vs. Werdum. He won the fight via verbal submission due to an armbar in the second round. The victory also gives him the distinction of being the only fighter to hold submission victories over both Fedor Emelianenko and Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira
Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira (, born 2 June 1976), better known as Minotauro or Big Nog, is a Brazilian retired mixed martial artist. He competed in the heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is a former Inter ...
both whom were former PRIDE FC
PRIDE Fighting Championships (Pride or Pride FC, founded as KRS-Pride) was a Japanese mixed martial arts promotion company. Its inaugural event was held at the Tokyo Dome on October 11, 1997. Pride held more than sixty mixed martial arts even ...
Heavyweight Champions.
Werdum faced Travis Browne at UFC on Fox 11 in a Heavyweight title eliminator bout. Despite being a betting underdog and considered at a disadvantage in terms of striking, Werdum dominated the fight for nearly all five rounds. He won the fight via unanimous decision (49–46, 50–45, and 50–45).
Heavyweight title
On 29 April 2014, the UFC announced that Werdum and heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez had been selected as coaches for the inaugural installment of '' The Ultimate Fighter: Latin America'', with the two expected to face each other on 15 November 2014 at UFC 180.
On 21 October 2014, it was announced that Velasquez pulled out of the bout due to a knee injury. Werdum instead faced Mark Hunt for the interim UFC Heavyweight Championship at UFC 180. Despite being dropped by punches early on, he won the fight via TKO in the second round, becoming the new UFC interim Heavyweight Champion. The win also earned Werdum his first ''Performance of the Night'' bonus award.
A rescheduled bout with Velasquez took place on 13 June 2015, at UFC 188 in Mexico City. In a back-and-forth affair, Werdum won the fight in the third round by guillotine choke submission. The win earned Werdum his second consecutive ''Performance of the Night'' bonus award. With the victory, Werdum unified the UFC's heavyweight titles and became the undisputed champion. Subsequently, Werdum signed a new, eight-fight contract with the UFC.
Losing the Heavyweight Championship
A rematch with Velasquez was expected to take place on 6 February 2016, at UFC Fight Night 82. However, Velasquez pulled out of the bout due to a back injury on 23 January and was replaced by Stipe Miocic. On the following day, Werdum announced that he was pulling out of the event due to an injury as well. The bout with Miocic was rescheduled and took place on 14 May 2016, at UFC 198. Werdum lost the fight via knockout in the first round after rushing in with an attempted flurry of punches and was caught with a counter right hook, suffering his first defeat since June 2011.
Post-title
Werdum was expected to face Ben Rothwell on 10 September 2016 at UFC 203. However, Rothwell pulled out of the fight on 11 August citing a knee injury and was replaced by former opponent Travis Browne. Werdum won the fight by unanimous decision. After the bout, Travis' coach Edmond Tarverdyan angrily confronted Werdum, who push kicked the coach in the chest and raise his hands to defend himself. This resulted in both fighter corners having to get involved to separate the two men. No disciplinary action was taken against Werdum for the incident.
Werdum was expected to face Cain Velasquez in a rematch at UFC 207 on 30 December 2016. However the Nevada State Athletic Commission failed to approve Velasquez to fight, determining after physical examinations and interviews that he was unfit to compete.
The bout with Ben Rothwell was rescheduled and expected to take place on 13 May 2017 at UFC 211. The bout was canceled due to Rothwell failing a drug test.
A third fight with Alistair Overeem
Alistair Cees Overeem (born 17 May 1980) is a Dutch former professional mixed martial artist and kickboxer. He is a former Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion, Dream Heavyweight Champion, K-1 World Grand Prix Champion, and was the first fight ...
took place on 8 July 2017 at UFC 213
''UFC 213: Romero vs. Whittaker'' was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship held on July 8, 2017, at T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada, part of the Las Vegas–Paradise, NV MSA, Las Vegas metropolitan area.
B ...
. Although coming close to finishing Overeem in the third round, Werdum lost the bout via somewhat controversial majority decision.
Werdum was expected to face Derrick Lewis on 7 October 2017 at UFC 216. However, the day of the event Lewis was unable to fight due to back issues. Werdum agreed to face last-minute replacement Walt Harris on the card. After securing a single leg takedown almost immediately, Werdum quickly secured back mount and transitioned to an armbar for the victory just over a minute into the fight.
Werdum faced Marcin Tybura on 19 November 2017 at UFC Fight Night: Werdum vs. Tybura. He dominated most of the action and won the fight via unanimous decision.
Werdum faced Alexander Volkov on 17 March 2018 at UFC Fight Night 127. He lost the back-and-forth fight via knockout in the fourth round.
USADA suspension
Werdum was expected to face Alexey Oleynik on 15 September 2018 at UFC Fight Night 136. However, on 22 May, Fabrício Werdum was flagged for a potential USADA doping violation. In September 2018 it was revealed that the substance in question was trenbolone
Trenbolone is an androgen and anabolic steroid (AAS) of the nandrolone group which itself was never marketed. Trenbolone ester prodrugs, including trenbolone acetate (brand names Finajet, Finaplix, others) and trenbolone hexahydrobenzylcarbonat ...
and as a result he was suspended from competition for 2 years. He was eligible to return in May 2020. Having two fights left in his contract, Werdum announced that he has requested for a release from the UFC. Subsequently, Werdum's 2-year suspension was reduced to 10 months for substantial assistance.
Return from suspension
Werdum was expected to face Alexey Oleynik on 9 May 2020 at UFC 250. However, on April 9, Dana White
Dana Frederick White Jr. (born July 28, 1969) is an American businessman who is the CEO and president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), a global mixed martial arts organization. In August 2019, White's net worth was estimated at . Out ...
, the president of UFC announced that this event was postponed and the bout eventually took place on May 9, 2020, at UFC 249
''UFC 249: Ferguson vs. Gaethje'' was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on May 9, 2020 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida, United States. It was originally planned to ...
. Werdum lost the fight via split decision.
Werdum faced Alexander Gustafsson on July 26, 2020, at UFC on ESPN 14, the latter making his debut at heavyweight. He won the fight via an armbar submission in round one. This win earned him the '' Performance of the Night'' award. After the fight, Werdum chose not to re-sign with the UFC.
Professional Fighters League
On November 16, 2020, Werdum announced he had signed a multi-fight deal with the Professional Fighters League
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) is an American mixed martial arts league founded by venture capitalist Donn Davis in 2017 and launched in 2018, following the acquisition and restructuring of the former World Series of Fighting (WSOF) promot ...
promotion and will compete in the 2021 PFL heavyweight tournament. He made his promotional debut against Team Nogueira fighter Renan Ferreira on May 6, 2021, at PFL 3. He lost the fight via technical knockout in the first round. The loss was surrounded by controversy as replays showed Ferreira tapping out while Werdum had him locked into a triangle choke
A triangle choke, or sankaku-jime (三角絞) in judo, is a type of figure-four chokehold that encircles the opponent's neck and one arm with the legs in a configuration similar to the shape of a triangle. Applying pressure using both legs and ...
right before Ferreira finished Werdum. On May 10, the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board announced that Ferreira's TKO win against Werdum was overturned to a no contest
''Nolo contendere'' () is a type of legal plea used in some jurisdictions in the United States. It is also referred to as a plea of no contest or no defense. It is a plea where the defendant neither admits nor disputes a charge, serving as an ...
due to the controversy of the stoppage.
Werdum was scheduled to face Brandon Sayles on June 25, 2021, at PFL 6. However, it was later announced that Werdum had pulled out due to injuries suffered in his last bout.
Gamebred FC
After over two years away from competing in the sport, Werdum announced that he had signed a new contract with an unnamed promotion. Werdum was then booked to compete against in a rematch against Junior Dos Santos
Junior dos Santos (; born 30 January 1984) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist and former professional wrestler who competes in the Heavyweight division. He is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion and current Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA Heavyweigh ...
in a bare knuckle MMA fight at a Gamebred FC event on September 8, 2023. He lost the fight by split decision.
Global Fight League
On December 11, 2024, it was announced that Werdum was signed by Global Fight League.
Werdum was scheduled to face Frank Mir
Francisco Santos Miranda III (; born May 24, 1979), is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the heavyweight division. He competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) for sixteen years, and Bellator MMA. A former UFC Heavywe ...
at a to be announced date and location. However, the bout was cancelled in March 2025 as a result of Mir having to undergo an emergency surgery. In turn, Werdum had to withdraw from the season due to an injury. Furthermore, in April 2025, it was reported that all GFL events were cancelled indefinitely.
Schools and instruction
On 4 October 2015 Werdum signed a contract with Chechen Akhmat Fight Club to represent the club.
Championships and accomplishments
Mixed martial arts
* Ultimate Fighting Championship
The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter (entertainment), promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority owned subsidiary of Endeavor ( ...
** UFC Heavyweight Championship
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) champions are fighters who have won UFC championships.
Historical notes
At the time of the UFC's inception in 1993, mixed martial arts was not sanctioned in the United States, and did not include weight clas ...
(One time)
** Interim UFC Heavyweight Championship (One time)
** Fight of the Night (One time) vs. Roy Nelson
** Performance of the Night (Three times)
**UFC.com Awards
***2013: Ranked #6 Submission of the Year
***2014: Ranked #7 Fighter of the Year & Ranked #7 Knockout of the Year
* Strikeforce
Strike Force may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Games
*Strike Force (video game), ''Strike Force'' (video game), a 1991 arcade game
*''Commandos: Strike Force'', a 2006 video game
*''Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce'', a 2009 video game
*' ...
** 2010 Submission of the Year vs. Fedor Emelianenko on 26 June
** 2010 Upset of the Year vs. Fedor Emelianenko on 26 June
* World MMA Awards
The World MMA Awards are awards presented by ''Fighters Only'' magazine to honor exceptional performance in various aspects of mixed martial arts. Winners are presented with the ''Fighters Only silver statuette''. The World MMA Awards are divided ...
** 2010 Submission of the Year vs. Fedor Emelianenko at Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Werdum
* Sherdog
Sherdog is an American website devoted to the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA). It also has many forums and discussion pages on the many topics of MMA like records, promotions, etc. The site is a member of the CraveOnline network and provides MM ...
** 2010 Submission of the Year vs. Fedor Emelianenko on 26 June
** 2010 Upset of the Year vs. Fedor Emelianenko on 26 June
** 2012 All-Violence Second Team
* Bleacher Report
''Bleacher Report'' (often abbreviated as B/R) is a website that focuses on sports and sports culture. Its headquarters are in San Francisco, with offices in New York City and London. ''Bleacher Report'' was acquired by Time Warner's Turner B ...
** 2010 Submission of the Year vs. Fedor Emelianenko on 26 June
** 2010 Upset of the Year vs. Fedor Emelianenko on 26 June
* MMAjunkie.com
**2015 June Submission of the Month vs. Cain Velasquez
* MMAFighting
** 2010 Submission of the Year vs. Fedor Emelianenko on 26 June
* FIGHT! Magazine
** 2010 Upset of the Year vs. Fedor Emelianenko on 26 June
* FightMatrix
** 2010 Upset of the Year vs. Fedor Emelianenko on 26 June
** Lineal MMA Heavyweight Champion (two times)
Submission grappling
* International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation
** 2004 IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championships Black Belt Gold Medalist
** 2003 IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championships Black Belt Absolute Bronze Medalist
** 2003 IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championships Black Belt Gold Medalist
** 2003 Pan American Championships Black Belt Absolute Silver Medalist
** 2003 Pan American Championships Black Belt Bronze Medalist
** 2002 IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championships Brown Belt Bronze Medalist
** 2002 Pan American Championships Brown Belt Gold Medalist
** 2001 IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championships Purple Belt Silver Medalist
** 2001 Pan American Championships Purple Belt Absolute Gold Medalist
** 2001 Pan American Championships Purple Belt Gold Medalist
** 2000 IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championships Blue Belt Absolute Gold Medalist
** 2000 IBJJF World Jiu-Jitsu Championships Blue Belt Gold Medalist
** 2000 Pan American Championships Blue Belt Gold Medalist
* ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship
The ADCC Submission Fighting World Championship is an international submission grappling competition, organised by the Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC). ADCC is considered one of the most prestigious No-Gi submission grappling tournaments in the world ...
** 2011 ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championships Silver Medalist
** 2009 ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championships Gold Medalist
** 2007 ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championships Gold Medalist
** 2005 ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championships Bronze Medalist
** 2003 ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championships Absolute Bronze Medalist
** 2003 ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championships Silver Medalist
Personal life
Werdum has two daughters with his wife Karine. Werdum is fluent in Portuguese, English and Spanish, having lived in Spain for 10 years, and as his mother is of Spanish descent. Werdum was previously a Spanish-language commentator for the UFC and often comes to the octagon with the Spanish flag, as well as the Brazilian one.
From 2004 to 2006, Werdum lived and trained together with Mirko Filipović in Zagreb
Zagreb ( ) is the capital (political), capital and List of cities and towns in Croatia#List of cities and towns, largest city of Croatia. It is in the Northern Croatia, north of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the ...
, Croatia
Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herze ...
.
In January 2019, Werdum made the news when he and a lifeguard rescued drowning teenagers at a beach near his home in Torrance, California.
In 2024, Werdum revealed that he had suffered brain lesions and scarring during his MMA career, and had suspected Chronic traumatic encephalopathy
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a neurodegenerative disease linked to repeated trauma to the head. The encephalopathy symptoms can include behavioral problems, mood problems, and problems with thinking. The disease often gets wor ...
.
Mixed martial arts record
, -
, Loss
, align=center,
, Junior dos Santos
Junior dos Santos (; born 30 January 1984) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist and former professional wrestler who competes in the Heavyweight division. He is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion and current Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA Heavyweigh ...
, Decision (split)
, Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA 5
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 5:00
, Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville ( ) is the most populous city proper in the U.S. state of Florida, located on the Atlantic coast of North Florida, northeastern Florida. It is the county seat of Duval County, Florida, Duval County, with which the City of Jacksonv ...
, United States
,
, -
, NC
, align=center,
, Renan Ferreira
, NC (overturned)
, PFL 3 (2021)
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 2:32
, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City, sometimes referred to by its initials A.C., is a Jersey Shore seaside resort city (New Jersey), city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, Atlantic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.
Atlantic City comprises the second half of ...
, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 24–9–1
, Alexander Gustafsson
, Submission (armbar)
, UFC on ESPN: Whittaker vs. Till
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 2:30
, Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi is the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. The city is the seat of the Abu Dhabi Central Capital District, the capital city of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and the UAE's List of cities in the United Arab Emirates, second-most popu ...
, United Arab Emirates
,
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 23–9–1
, Aleksei Oleinik
, Decision (split)
, UFC 249
''UFC 249: Ferguson vs. Gaethje'' was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on May 9, 2020 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida, United States. It was originally planned to ...
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 5:00
, Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville ( ) is the most populous city proper in the U.S. state of Florida, located on the Atlantic coast of North Florida, northeastern Florida. It is the county seat of Duval County, Florida, Duval County, with which the City of Jacksonv ...
, United States
,
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 23–8–1
, Alexander Volkov
, KO (punches)
, UFC Fight Night: Werdum vs. Volkov
,
, align=center, 4
, align=center, 1:38
, London
London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
, England
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 23–7–1
, Marcin Tybura
, Decision (unanimous)
, UFC Fight Night: Werdum vs. Tybura
,
, align=center, 5
, align=center, 5:00
, Sydney
Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...
, Australia
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 22–7–1
, Walt Harris
, Submission (armbar)
, UFC 216
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 1:05
, Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...
, United States
,
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 21–7–1
, Alistair Overeem
Alistair Cees Overeem (born 17 May 1980) is a Dutch former professional mixed martial artist and kickboxer. He is a former Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion, Dream Heavyweight Champion, K-1 World Grand Prix Champion, and was the first fight ...
, Decision (majority)
, UFC 213
''UFC 213: Romero vs. Whittaker'' was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship held on July 8, 2017, at T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada, part of the Las Vegas–Paradise, NV MSA, Las Vegas metropolitan area.
B ...
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 5:00
, Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...
, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 21–6–1
, Travis Browne
, Decision (unanimous)
, UFC 203
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 5:00
, Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Cuyahoga County. Located along the southern shore of Lake Erie, it is situated across the Canada–United States border, Canada–U.S. maritime border ...
, United States
,
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 20–6–1
, Stipe Miocic
, KO (punch)
, UFC 198
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 2:47
, Curitiba
Curitiba () is the capital and largest city in the state of Paraná (state), Paraná in Southern Brazil. The city's population was 1,773,718 , making it the List of cities in Brazil by population, eighth most populous city in Brazil and the larg ...
, Brazil
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 20–5–1
, Cain Velasquez
, Submission (guillotine choke)
, UFC 188
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 2:13
, Mexico City
Mexico City is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Mexico, largest city of Mexico, as well as the List of North American cities by population, most populous city in North America. It is one of the most important cultural and finan ...
, Mexico
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 19–5–1
, Mark Hunt
, TKO (knee and punches)
, UFC 180
,
, align=center, 2
, align=center, 2:27
, Mexico City
Mexico City is the capital city, capital and List of cities in Mexico, largest city of Mexico, as well as the List of North American cities by population, most populous city in North America. It is one of the most important cultural and finan ...
, Mexico
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 18–5–1
, Travis Browne
, Decision (unanimous)
, UFC on Fox: Werdum vs. Browne
,
, align=center, 5
, align=center, 5:00
, Orlando, Florida
Orlando ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Orange County, Florida, United States. The city proper had a population of 307,573 at the 2020 census, making it the fourth-most populous city in Florida behind Jacksonville, Florida, Jacksonville ...
, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 17–5–1
, Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira
Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira (, born 2 June 1976), better known as Minotauro or Big Nog, is a Brazilian retired mixed martial artist. He competed in the heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is a former Inter ...
, Submission (armbar)
, UFC on Fuel TV: Nogueira vs. Werdum
,
, align=center, 2
, align=center, 2:41
, Fortaleza
Fortaleza ( ; ; ) is the state capital of Ceará, located in Northeast Region, Brazil, Northeastern Brazil. It is Brazil's 4th largest city—Fortaleza surpassed Salvador, Bahia, Salvador in 2022 census with a population of slightly over 2.4 mi ...
, Brazil
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 16–5–1
, Mike Russow
, TKO (punches)
, UFC 147
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 2:28
, Belo Horizonte
Belo Horizonte is the List of largest cities in Brazil, sixth-largest city in Brazil, with a population of around 2.3 million, and the third largest metropolitan area, containing a population of 6 million. It is the List of cities in Sout ...
, Brazil
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 15–5–1
, Roy Nelson
, Decision (unanimous)
, UFC 143
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 5:00
, Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...
, United States
,
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 14–5–1
, Alistair Overeem
Alistair Cees Overeem (born 17 May 1980) is a Dutch former professional mixed martial artist and kickboxer. He is a former Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion, Dream Heavyweight Champion, K-1 World Grand Prix Champion, and was the first fight ...
, Decision (unanimous)
, Strikeforce: Overeem vs. Werdum
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 5:00
, Dallas, Texas
Dallas () is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of Texas metropolitan areas, most populous metropolitan area in Texas and the Metropolitan statistical area, fourth-most ...
, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 14–4–1
, Fedor Emelianenko
, Submission (triangle armbar)
, Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Werdum
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 1:09
, San Jose, California
San Jose, officially the City of San José ( ; ), is a cultural, commercial, and political center within Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area. With a city population of 997,368 and a metropolitan area population of 1.95 million, it is ...
, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 13–4–1
, Antônio Silva
, Decision (unanimous)
, Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 5:00
, Hoffman Estates, Illinois
Hoffman Estates is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is a suburb of Chicago. Per the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 52,530.
The village previously served as the headquarters for Transform Holdco L ...
, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 12–4–1
, Mike Kyle
, Submission (guillotine choke)
, Strikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 1:24
, San Jose, California
San Jose, officially the City of San José ( ; ), is a cultural, commercial, and political center within Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area. With a city population of 997,368 and a metropolitan area population of 1.95 million, it is ...
, United States
,
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 11–4–1
, Junior dos Santos
Junior dos Santos (; born 30 January 1984) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist and former professional wrestler who competes in the Heavyweight division. He is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion and current Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA Heavyweigh ...
, TKO (punches)
, UFC 90
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 1:20
, Rosemont, Illinois
Rosemont is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States, located immediately northwest of Chicago. As of the 2020 census, the village had a population of 3,952. The village was incorporated in 1956, though it had been settled long before ...
, United States
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 11–3–1
, Brandon Vera
Brandon Michael Vera (born October 10, 1977), or also known by his ring name as The Truth, is a Filipino and American retired mixed martial artist where he was the inaugural ONE Heavyweight Champion and the 2005 WEC Heavyweight Grand Prix Champ ...
, TKO (punches)
, UFC 85
''UFC 85: Bedlam'' was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) on June 7, 2008, at The O2 Arena in London, United Kingdom.
Background
The card was plagued by a number of injuries sustained by scheduled fight ...
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 4:40
, London
London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
, England
,
, -
, Win
, align=center,
, Gabriel Gonzaga
Gabriel Gonzaga Santos Nogueira (; born 18 May 1979) is a Brazilian former professional Mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist, Submission grappling, submission grappler and 5th degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) Brazilian jiu-jitsu ranking syst ...
, TKO (punches)
, UFC 80
''UFC 80: Rapid Fire'' was a mixed martial arts (MMA) event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), that took place on January 19, 2008 at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle, United Kingdom.
Background
The main event was originally sc ...
,
, align=center, 2
, align=center, 4:34
, Newcastle
Newcastle usually refers to:
*Newcastle upon Tyne, a city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England, United Kingdom
*Newcastle-under-Lyme, a town in Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom
*Newcastle, New South Wales, a metropolitan area ...
, England
,
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 9–3–1
, Andrei Arlovski
, Decision (unanimous)
, UFC 70
''UFC 70: Nations Collide'' was the second UFC event held in the United Kingdom, and the first in Manchester on Saturday, April 21, 2007. ''UFC 70'' was also only the seventh UFC event held outside the United States, and the first since '' UFC ...
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 5:00
, Manchester
Manchester () is a city and the metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It had an estimated population of in . Greater Manchester is the third-most populous metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, with a population of 2.92&nbs ...
, England
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 9–2–1
, Alexander Emelianenko
, Submission (arm-triangle choke)
, 2 Hot 2 Handle: Pride and Honour
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 3:24
, Rotterdam
Rotterdam ( , ; ; ) is the second-largest List of cities in the Netherlands by province, city in the Netherlands after the national capital of Amsterdam. It is in the Provinces of the Netherlands, province of South Holland, part of the North S ...
, Netherlands
,
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 8–2–1
, Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira
Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira (, born 2 June 1976), better known as Minotauro or Big Nog, is a Brazilian retired mixed martial artist. He competed in the heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is a former Inter ...
, Decision (unanimous)
, Pride Critical Countdown Absolute
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 5:00
, Saitama, Japan
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 8–1–1
, Alistair Overeem
Alistair Cees Overeem (born 17 May 1980) is a Dutch former professional mixed martial artist and kickboxer. He is a former Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion, Dream Heavyweight Champion, K-1 World Grand Prix Champion, and was the first fight ...
, Submission (kimura)
, Pride Total Elimination Absolute
The year 2006 was the 10th year in the history of the Pride Fighting Championships, a mixed martial arts promotion based in Japan. 2006 had 10 events beginning with, ''Pride 31 - Unbreakable''.
Title fights
Debut Pride FC fighters
The f ...
,
, align=center, 2
, align=center, 3:43
, Osaka
is a Cities designated by government ordinance of Japan, designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the List of cities in Japan, third-most populous city in J ...
, Japan
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 7–1–1
, John-Olav Einemo
, Decision (unanimous)
, Pride 31
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 5:00
, Saitama, Japan
,
, -
, Loss
, align=center, 6–1–1
, Sergei Kharitonov
, Decision (split)
, Pride 30
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 5:00
, Saitama, Japan
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 6–0–1
, Roman Zentsov
Roman Zentsov (, ) (born September 10, 1973 in Bryansk) is a retired Russian heavyweight mixed martial arts fighter who has competed in the PRIDE Fighting Championships, a major MMA organization based in Japan, and BodogFIGHT. Zentsov has an overa ...
, Submission (triangle armbar)
, Pride Final Conflict 2005
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 6:01
, Saitama, Japan
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 5–0–1
, Tom Erikson
, Submission (rear-naked choke)
, Pride 29
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 5:29
, Saitama, Japan
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 4–0–1
, Ebenezer Fontes Braga
, KO (punch)
, Jungle Fight 2
,
, align=center, 2
, align=center, 1:28
, Manaus
Manaus () is the List of capitals of subdivisions of Brazil, capital and largest city of the States of Brazil, Brazilian state of Amazonas (Brazilian state), Amazonas. It is the List of largest cities in Brazil, seventh-largest city in Brazil, w ...
, Brazil
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 3–0–1
, Gabriel Gonzaga
Gabriel Gonzaga Santos Nogueira (; born 18 May 1979) is a Brazilian former professional Mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist, Submission grappling, submission grappler and 5th degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) Brazilian jiu-jitsu ranking syst ...
, TKO (punches)
, Jungle Fight 1
The year 2003 is the first year in the history of Jungle Fight, a mixed martial arts promotion based in Brazil. In 2003 Jungle Fight held 1 event, ''Jungle Fight 1''.
Events list
Jungle Fight 1
Jungle Fight 1 was an event held on Septemb ...
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 2:11
, Manaus
Manaus () is the List of capitals of subdivisions of Brazil, capital and largest city of the States of Brazil, Brazilian state of Amazonas (Brazilian state), Amazonas. It is the List of largest cities in Brazil, seventh-largest city in Brazil, w ...
, Brazil
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 2–0–1
, Kristof Midoux
, Submission (triangle armbar)
, World Absolute Fight 2
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, 4:11
, Marrakech
Marrakesh or Marrakech (; , ) is the fourth-largest city in Morocco. It is one of the four imperial cities of Morocco and is the capital of the Marrakesh–Safi Regions of Morocco, region. The city lies west of the foothills of the Atlas Mounta ...
, Morocco
,
, -
, Draw
, align=center, 1–0–1
, James Zikic
, Draw
, Millennium Brawl 8
,
, align=center, 3
, align=center, 5:00
, High Wycombe
High Wycombe, often referred to as Wycombe ( ), is a market town in Buckinghamshire, England. Lying in the valley of the River Wye, Buckinghamshire, River Wye surrounded by the Chiltern Hills, it is west-northwest of Charing Cross in London, ...
, England
,
, -
, Win
, align=center, 1–0
, Tengiz Tedoradze
, Submission (triangle choke)
, Millennium Brawl 7
,
, align=center, 1
, align=center, N/A
, High Wycombe
High Wycombe, often referred to as Wycombe ( ), is a market town in Buckinghamshire, England. Lying in the valley of the River Wye, Buckinghamshire, River Wye surrounded by the Chiltern Hills, it is west-northwest of Charing Cross in London, ...
, England
,
, -
Pay-per-view bouts
See also
* List of Strikeforce alumni
* List of male mixed martial artists
This is a list of notable professional male mixed martial arts fighters in alphabetical order.
__NOTOC__
A
* Tank Abbott - ( UFC, Pride, Strikeforce)
* Hamdy Abdelwahab - ( UFC)
* Abdul-Aziz Abdulvakhabov - ( ACB)
* Shamil Abdurakhimov - ...
* List of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners
References
External links
Fabrício Werdum
at PFL
*
, -
{{DEFAULTSORT:Werdum, Fabricio
1977 births
Living people
Brazilian male mixed martial artists
Heavyweight mixed martial artists
Mixed martial artists utilizing Muay Thai
Mixed martial artists utilizing judo
Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Brazilian male judoka
Brazilian male kickboxers
Brazilian submission wrestlers
Brazilian people of Spanish descent
Brazilian male Muay Thai practitioners
Brazilian practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Martial artists from Porto Alegre
Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in Spain
Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in the United States
Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in Croatia
Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in Russia
People awarded a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Ultimate Fighting Championship champions
Doping cases in mixed martial arts
Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters
World Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championship medalists
American mixed martial artists of Brazilian descent
Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners who have competed in MMA (men)