Andrei Arlovski is best for business. At least as far as Fabricio Werdum’s team is concerned.
Werdum’s manager Ali Abdel-Aziz told UFC Tonight’s Ariel Helwani that they believe Arlovski makes the most sense for Werdum’s first UFC heavyweight title defense. Team Werdum thinks Arlovski is the best choice financially since he has the biggest name and is on the longest winning streak.
Arlovski (24-10, 1 NC) has won five in a row and is coming off a first-round knockout of Travis Browne at UFC 187 in May. That fight featured one of the best rounds in the history of MMA. Abdel-Aziz said the UFC has not offered Arlovski to Werdum yet, but he is their top choice.
Werdum (20-5-1) lost to Arlovski at UFC 70 in 2007. He only has two losses since and has won six in a row. At UFC 188 on June 13, Werdum unified the heavyweight title with an upset, third-round submission win over Cain Velasquez in Mexico City.
Other potential challengers for the heavyweight title are Stipe Miocic and Junior dos Santos with Ben Rothwell and Alistair Overeem right behind them.
Abdel-Aziz said Werdum has some bumps and bruises that need to be healed, but he’ll be back by the end of the year.