Fabricio Werdum Plans To Request His Release From The UFC


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We may have seen the last of Fabricio Werdum within the UFC’s octagon. The former heavyweight champion announced on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show on Monday that he plans to request his release from the promotion while he awaits his USADA suspension to expire in May 2020.

“It’s a very hard situation, because I don’t want to stop fighting,” Werdum said, per ESPN. “I love the UFC, but the best decision for me is release, for sure.”

USADA suspensions prohibit UFC fighters from competing, so with two fights left on his deal, Werdum is exploring other options. Rumors flew that the former UFC champion could be the latest MMA fighter to rush off to WWE, but it would appear he’s focused on fighting for as long as he can.

The 41-year-old Werdum was suspended due to a failed drug test last September after an out-of-competition test in April 2018 found an anabolic steroid (Trenbolone), as well as a metabolite (Epitrenbolone) in his system. At the time, Werdum blamed meat contamination for his failed test after a subsequent test two weeks later came back clean.

Werdum (23-8-1) told Helwani he would agree to not compete against the UFC with a promotion in the United States should he be granted a release, instead fighting in Japan or Russia.

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