Fabricio Werdum Will Fight for the Heavyweight Title by Year's End

Fabricio Werdum has a big fight coming up on Jun. 8 against Antonio Rodrigio Nogueira. The two veteran heavyweights will be featured as the main event on UFC on Fuel TV 10, which takes place in Fortaleza, Brazil.

Werdum is not only excited to fight in his native country, but is also eager to use this opportunity to get closer to a title fight. Werdum knows with an impressive knockout win over Nogueira, he can be put himself in the mix of top contenders for Cain Velasquez’ title.

Werdum recently discussed his strategy to beat Nogueira with Combatsystems.com. “He has good boxing and good jiu-jitsu, but I know that my stand up is very [good] now,” Werdum said. “My feeling now is that I am a more complete fighter. When the guys close the cage, I will try to [submit] him or knock him out.”

With a win over Nogueira, Werdum may get an immediate shot at the title, depending on what happens between another fight featuring fellow heavyweight contenders Junior Dos Santos and Mark Hunt.

“I want the belt,” Werdum said. “Whether it’s Bigfoot [Antonio Silva], Dos Santos, Cain Velasquez, it doesn’t matter.  I wan the belt.”

Werdum has won five of his last six MMA fights and is currently ranked as the No. 2 UFC heavyweight behind only Dos Santos. While Werdum is likely to destroy the aging Nogueira, Dos Santos will have the first crack at the title with a win over Hunt.

If Dos Santos loses or gets injured by the hard-punching Hunt, Werdum will be next in line to fight for the title shot.  If not, Werdum will remain second in line behind Dos Santos and will likely have to wait several months for his turn. Either way, Werdum will fight for the title by the year’s final show on Dec. 28 in Las Vegas, Nev.