Fabricio Werdum is a patient man.
The UFC heavyweight contender earned his shot at the title with a submission victory over former champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira last June and decided to sit and wait for the winner of Cain Velasquez vs. Junior dos Santos. Now, he needs to make a decision.
Velasquez is sidelined after a shoulder surgery and won’t fight anytime soon. Werdum traveled to Las Vegas with his team for a meeting with UFC president Dana White earlier this week, but haven’t made his final decision yet.
“They told me it’s my decision,” Werdum told MMAFighting.com. “I had a meeting with Dana White and my team, the UFC said it’s up to me, if I want to wait or fight again. I’m still thinking about it, but I believe I’m going to wait for this opportunity to fight for the title. I’m the next in line. But it’s not 100 percent yet.”
If he chooses to fight, Werdum could face the winner of Josh Barnett vs. Travis Browne, but he’s willing to wait for the champion.
“I believe (Cain Velasquez) will return soon, probably around July or August,” he said. “It’s normal to recover quickly today, so that’s what I hope. I’ll even send my physical therapist to help him get better. I’ll pay for his recovery (laughs).
“I’ll make my final decision next week,” he continued. “It’s an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, something that I’ve been waiting for a long time. My biggest dream is to fight for the UFC title. I accomplished all my other dreams, becoming a world champion in jiu-jitsu and ADCC, and I still want the world title in MMA.”