Fabricio Werdum will no longer be seen in the UFC, according to his manager Ali Abdelaziz.
The last time former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum stepped inside the Octagon was in March. Coming off a two-fight win streak, “Vai Cavalho” was knocked out by a streaking Alexander Volkov in the fourth round of their fight in London, England.
Werdum was scheduled to face Alexey Oleynik in September, but these plans were scrapped when the Brazilian failed an out-of-competition drug test in April. This resulted to the 41-year-old fighter being slapped with a two-year ban, which began in May 22nd.
According to manager Ali Abdelaziz, fans may have already seen the last of Werdum in the UFC.
“I think Fabricio’s done. You’ll never see him in the UFC again,” Abdelaziz told MMA Fighting. “They need to do what they need to do, but at the end of the day, Fabricio has to do whatever he needs to do for his family. I know Dana’s tough, but these guys have hearts. They understand this is his only source of income.
“Now Fabricio’s 41. After his suspension ends and he comes back, he’ll be 43. What is he going to do? If they open a senior league, we’ll wait. But Fabricio Werdum did not cheat, you understand? How stupid are you to cheat at 41 years old? You’d have to be.
“I don’t think Frank Mir cheated. I don’t think Tom Lawlor is a cheater,” he continued. “I think those guys just got caught for something like Jon Jones did, and Jon Jones keeps getting slaps on the wrist.”
USADA has been criticized for its supposed inconsistencies when it comes to drug-testing, and Abdelaziz himself did not hold back with his words.
“I’m not hating on him, but you don’t need USADA. USADA is fake, they’re a fraud,” he said. “Some guys like [Zubaira Tukhugov], tainted supplement, two years. Other guys, six months. How is that possible? They don’t treat everyone equally.”
As for Werdum, Abdelaziz foresees a continued fighting career outside the UFC, and the United States.
“I think Fabricio will be fighting in Russia (next), to be honest with you. I need the UFC’s blessing for this. I want their blessing.”
Werdum currently holds a record of 23-8-1, with 17 wins by stoppage.