At UFC on Fox 2, Lavar Johnson made a statement about the incoming Strikeforce heavyweights. At UFC 143, Fabricio Werdum put the exclamation point on that statement.
The Strikeforce heavyweights are coming, and they are here to stay.
Werdum, primarily known for his world-class Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, used crisp striking and viscous Muay Thai to batter the always tough Roy Nelson for three solid rounds. While Nelson may not be among the elite in the heavyweight division, he is definitely a solid gatekeeper, and a dominating win over Nelson is nothing to take lightly.
Werdum was in control of the fight throughout and showed that he definitely belonged in the octagon.
The notoriously weak heavyweight division could definitely use an infusion of new talent, and if the trend continues, that is exactly what it is about to get.
Werdum has shown that he should immediately be considered a contender and could eventually get the opportunity to avenge his losses to Junior dos Santos and Alistair Overeem.
Will there be other contenders that come from the UFC’s sister promotion?
Daniel Cormier, Josh Barnett, Antonio Silva and Sergei Kharitnikov, among others, certainly think so. If their debuts are anything like Lavar Johnson’s or Werdum’s, the answer will certainly be a resounding yes.
With the recent retirement of long-time major draw Brock Lesnar and an overall lack of prospects in the division, the Strikeforce heavyweights certainly seem to be the shot in the arm that the UFC heavyweight division has so desperately needed.
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