Fabricio Werdum Is More Interested in Fighting Often Than Title Shots

Fabricio Werdum spoke with MMA Fighting ahead of his bout with Alexander Volkov at this weekend’s UFC Fight Night 127. Highlights are below:

On accepting the fight with Volkov: ”I know I’m ready, and I want to fight as many times as possible. I don’t want to be obsessed with the belt. I want the belt, of course, but I don’t want to think about it and stop fighting. If Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier are fighting on July 7, how long am I going to wait? I’d rather stay active, fighting. Is it a risk? It is a risk, of course, but if I were afraid of taking risks I wouldn’t even fight. I’m happy to be fighting in London.”

On his next fight after Volkov: ”I don’t know what will happen next, but I’m fighting Volkov now, so maybe I’ll fight again on that same card on July 7? Nothing is set, but let’s get past this fight with Volkov first and then think about that.”

On possibly being a replacement opponent if Stipe Miocic or Daniel Cormier are forced out of their fight: ”I don’t want anyone to get injured, I wish no one any harm, but that can happen. I will be prepared in case something shows up. I’ve showed the UFC that I have no problem accepting last-minute fights. I will show for the third time that I’m the best in the world. It’s just a matter of opportunity. When people ask me if I’m the greatest heavyweight of all-time, I don’t like to say that, I leave that for the fans to respond, but I believe I’m the best in the world.”

On Volkov: ”Every heavyweight fight is complicated. His striking is better than his ground game, but at the same time I can’t underestimate him anywhere. That word, ‘underestimate,’ doesn’t exist at heavyweight. That’s how I feel. You have to be alert at all times because things can get complicated at any moment. A small detail can change everything in the fight.”

On longer fights: “I prefer five rounds instead of three because I grow as time gets by. I would fight 10 rounds if it was possible, no problem. I think that’s how jiu-jitsu fighters think, we kind of save the energy to use it at the right time. Fights had no time-limit back in the Gracie era. If I could fight with no time-limit, until someone finishes or gives up, I’d prefer that. But five rounds is fine.”