Fabricio Werdum Reestablishes Himself As Top Heavyweight with Fedor Victory
by Anthony Pace on Jun 27, 2010 5:34 PM EDT
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Lost in the midst of all the commotion about Fedor Emelianenko's earth-shattering first true defeat last night is the fact that a man actually won: Fabricio Werdum. After being unceremoniously dumped from the UFC for refusing a smaller contract when Junior dos Santos knocked him out at UFC 90, Werdum was largely neglected by all but the most hardcore fans. In the span of one night he went from top contender in the UFC to essentially an also-ran. Now, he's the belle of the ball.
Werdum is criminally underrated, to be honest. His record of 14-4-1 is highly comparable to fighters such as BJ Penn (15-6-1) and Randy Couture (18-10), both widely regarded as legends of the sport. To be fair, the two former UFC champs have done remarkable things over many years and even different weight classes, but Werdum has never lost to terrible fighters. His four losses come against, in order, Sergei Kharitonov, Antonio Rodrigo Noguiera, Andrei Arlovski, and dos Santos. JDS is the only man to ever finish Werdum.
The ADCC champion has solid victories over Gabriel Gonzaga twice, Alistair Overeem, Aleks Emelianenko, Brandon Vera, and Antonio Silva to go along with his now signature win against Fedor. Our USA Today/SB Nation Rankings had Werdum as the 9th best heavyweight, but with the win over #1 he is surely likely to clim that ladder. I'll say he's Top-5, maybe even sniffing at Top-3 on my heavyweight rankings. Where do you have him?
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Definitely an elite world ranked guy now, no question. And I’d definitely rate him above Fedor for the time being. Is he # 1? Guess we’ll see what most of the experts say. What is sure is this: The UFC heavyweight champion, for the first time in a LONG time, will have a legitimate argument toward being the world’s top heavyweight. It could be argued that Zuffa pretty much does have the lockdown on all 7 divisions now. Not saying that’s good or bad, just the reality.
it's hard to deny
the only guy I can see threatening to be top of a division outside Zuffa is Gilbert Melendez, if he can score wins over Eddie Alvarez and and Kawajiri. But even those guys are Strikeforce fighters, so will he just rematch Josh Thomson for all eternity?
Inhale deep, like the words of my breath—I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death
by Anthony Pace on Jun 27, 2010 5:47 PM EDT up reply actions
*aren't Strikeforce fighters
Inhale deep, like the words of my breath—I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death
by Anthony Pace on Jun 27, 2010 5:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Gilbert is a good fighter, but do you really think he could fight Heavyweight?
I mean, he is a tough guy alright, but I just don’t see him trying to fight Werdum, or Fedor, etc.
Say wha???
We were talking about all divisions…
Inhale deep, like the words of my breath—I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death
by Anthony Pace on Jun 27, 2010 8:01 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
not under the Zuffa umbrella
Inhale deep, like the words of my breath—I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death
by Anthony Pace on Jun 28, 2010 2:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Rankings are this...
1. Winner of Lesnar vs Carwin
2. Junior Dos Santos
3. Loser of Lesnar vs Carwin
4. Cain Velasquez
5. Fabricio Werdum
6. Fedor Emelianenko
LMAO at dropping Fedor to 6.
Just stop doing rankings
by Forrest Lynn on Jun 27, 2010 7:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Okay. Since you said to I'll stop.
Oh, wait, no I won’t. Everyone ahead of him could beat him. That’s all there is to it.
Does the loser of Carwin/Lesnar necessarily deserve to be ranked that high? Particularly if Carwin loses?
It's a tough call
but Carwin has the Chuck Liddell like ability to keep the fight standing and then knocking guys out. He’ll be there until someone pushes him out.
Werdum top HW?!? PLEASE!
Sorry one win does not make you hot sh*t. And the way Werdum wins is not that deep. This dude got smacked around by Arlovski and put away by JDS.
Fedor still #1.
Does Frankie Edgar becomes #1 while Gray Maynard does not become #2o or #3?
Yeah, I’m pretty much a hater.
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VEe is ANIMated!
I don’t think Werdum should be # 1 either. But you’d rate Emelianenko over him despite being tapped out by Werdum in basically one minute just last night? Seriously? What was the point of even going through with that fight, then? Werdum isn’t necessarily # 1 but going 3-0 against both Emelianenkos and Overeem damn sure makes him the top ranked heavyweight Strikeforce has.
he also got dropped within that minute so i wouldnt really have him above Fedor either to be honest, but i could completely understand why he would be in the mind of another…
Fedor threw up that sub for him, it was by no means a Maiaesque clinic….
"Be yourself, don't take anyone's shit, and never let them take you alive." ~ George Way
by RearNakedPoke on Jun 28, 2010 9:52 AM EDT up reply actions
Don’t get me wrong. HE BEAT FEDOR. That’s clear, there’s no controversy but fans are really hyped over the win and wants to claim Werdum is a top 10 HW and the BEST HW GRAPPLER because he subbed Fedor? Come on!
Literally 2 seconds ago, he couldn’t get past Arlovski and as Neil put it was OBLITERATED by JDS. Yet and I still will say this Lesnar is ranked higher than the holy UFC trifecta of JDS, Velasquez and Carwin?
Well this Saturday Lesnar and Carwin gets to settle who’s the better athlete and better fighter but I wouldn’t be quick to put winner of that match at #1.
After all, did BJ Penn drop to #2 or #3 because he lost to Edgar in that fashion? Not in my book.
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by VeeisAnimated on Jun 28, 2010 7:03 PM EDT up reply actions
okay
i dunno do you realise we’re in agreement on a lot of those points…
Yet and I still will say this Lesnar is ranked higher than the holy UFC trifecta of JDS, Velasquez and Carwin?
do you have an issue with that or what? i dont personally, or are you suggesting JDS is #1 because he beat Werdum? By the way he isn’t….
BJ Penn’s loss was a 5 round struggle, there is no comparison worthy of mention with Fedors loss…BJ’s loss was like Shogun’s…. it really has no relevance to Fedors at all.
"Be yourself, don't take anyone's shit, and never let them take you alive." ~ George Way
by RearNakedPoke on Jun 29, 2010 9:24 AM EDT up reply actions
nah, we agree.
I don’t think JDS is #1 by a long shot. But I also don’t think Lesnar is necessarily #2 because I don’t think he’s done more than the HW trifecta.
Yeah, Penn’s loss doesn’t compare but many people love to say . . . a loss is still a loss.
Simply put, I kind of have Fedor still at the top of the HW totem pole.
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by VeeisAnimated on Jun 29, 2010 7:00 PM EDT up reply actions
my bad Vee
i getcha, i can see entirely where you’re coming from but i don’t really agree on the HW top 5 pecking order but it really is a throw up at this point…saturday night should hopefully shed some light on it and clear up some unresolved issues :)
"Be yourself, don't take anyone's shit, and never let them take you alive." ~ George Way
by RearNakedPoke on Jun 30, 2010 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions
People, come on
Werdum is a dude who lost to Arlovski, and was OBLITERATED by Junior Dos Santos. Hell, if we’re using the MMAth that a lot of folks are diggin’ nowadays, that means that Cro Cop is superior to Werdum, because he lasted a lot longer against JDS. So please, just stop.
Stop playing this “OMG, Werdum HAS to be ranked below Fedor because he beat him!” because Werdum, despite being a legit heavyweight, is not top-five talent. He’s good, but he’s not elite, and Fedor is elite. ONE LOSS does not equate to dropping a man in rankings so far.
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ONE LOSS does not equate to dropping a man in rankings so far.
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"Be yourself, don't take anyone's shit, and never let them take you alive." ~ George Way
by RearNakedPoke on Jun 28, 2010 9:59 AM EDT up reply actions
fail: take 2
"Be yourself, don't take anyone's shit, and never let them take you alive." ~ George Way
by RearNakedPoke on Jun 28, 2010 10:00 AM EDT up reply actions
Just my $0.02 but i’d have the rankings like this:
Assuming Brock beats Carwin…
1. Lesner
2. Fedor
3. Velasquez
4. Dos Santos
5. Werdum
6. Carwin
7. Overeem
8. Mir
9. Big Nog
Assuming Carwin beats Lesner…
1. Fedor
2. Carwin
3. Velasquez
4. Lesner
5. Dos Santos
6. Werdum
7. Overeem
8. Mir
9. Big Nog
Fedor drops the top spot only if Lesner wins and while Werdum moves up 4 or 5 spots one unlikely win doesn’t erase past performances.
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by villin on Jun 28, 2010 4:23 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
perfect
"Be yourself, don't take anyone's shit, and never let them take you alive." ~ George Way
by RearNakedPoke on Jun 28, 2010 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions
If Carwin beats Lesnar
Fedor can’t be #1 still…if it was a close decision…I’d leave him there….but he got finished…decisively….so no matter who wins Carwin/Lesnar…they are #1 IMO.
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by Kelvin Hunt on Jun 28, 2010 10:05 AM EDT up reply actions
…meh…Fedor decisively threw up those submissions for him is all im saying ;)
plus, common man! its Carwin….rofl
"Be yourself, don't take anyone's shit, and never let them take you alive." ~ George Way
by RearNakedPoke on Jun 28, 2010 10:22 AM EDT up reply actions
stop hating!
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by Kelvin Hunt on Jun 28, 2010 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions
"Be yourself, don't take anyone's shit, and never let them take you alive." ~ George Way
by RearNakedPoke on Jun 28, 2010 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions
I like it
I also like that #10 has been removed.
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Well it is most likely Big Foot but i’m not 100% sold on him so I didn’t want to ruffle any feathers.
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To be honest, after #5 it's almost not worth listing
The drop in overall talent is just too big.
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This ranking is kind of all over the place. So if Carwin defeats Lesnar . . . he drops below Velasquez? What does that say about Velasquez right now and how does Lesnar still rank higher than JDS.
I know it is just your .02 cents but I’m just adding some food for thought.
Why is Velasquez ranked higher than JDS when all three fighters (JDS, Velasquez, Carwin) have more or less done the same in the UFC?
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by VeeisAnimated on Jun 29, 2010 7:03 PM EDT up reply actions
The brevity of the fight is what shocked a lot of casual fans. Fair or not, there is a visceral reaction caused by him losing so quickly. Case in point, most people I know were almost as shocked that he was choked out in a minute as they were that he lost at all. I’m not saying that’s fair. It’s not. A sports team can lose by a point in a hard-fought contest or they can pull away in the first minute, winning handily. Life’s not fair but it definitely creates an impression on the mind of casual fans, even if educated fans know better.
Beating Brock does not make you Brock. – Shane Carwin.
This is out of context but I think it is really applicable when thinking about Werdum’s victory of Fedor. Brett Rogers asked prior to being separated from his consciousness, “If I beat Fedor, am I the best HW in MMA?”
The answer is no. Well, if he blasted through Fedor like he blasted through Arlovski then I can see how his ranking would have increased.
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VEe is ANIMated!
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