Fabricio Werdum
He has a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a Brown Belt in Judo. Werdum has competed in PRIDE Fighting Championships, the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and he recently made his Strikeforce debut on August 15, 2009.
Early life
Born in Porto Alegre, Brazil, Werdum started training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu after a recommendation from his ex-girlfriend.
He trained with Marcio Corletta at the Porto Alegre Academy, Winner Behring. After success in competitive BJJ and submission wrestling, he started his career in MMA.
He arrived in Spain to join his mother, who had moved to the city of Madrid some years before.
At the age of 17, soon after his arrival in Spain, when he was just a purple belt, he started teaching the art of BJJ in Madrid and other cities of Spain. Despite only training with white and blue belts, he became BJJ World Champion, being promoted to the rank of black belt by Sylvio Behring 3 years later.
He has therefore made a great contribution to the spreading of BJJ in Madrid where many of his former students remain, whether purple, brown or black belts, and continue to spread the art of BJJ.
MMA career
Werdum's early fights were with the promotions Jungle Fight, Millennium Brawl, and World Absolute Fight.
He boasted a 4-0-1 record, including a win against BJJ Gabriel Gonzaga.
PRIDE Fighting Championship
In 2005, Werdum made his PRIDE debut against Tom Erikson, winning by submission. He accumulated a record of 3-1 before entering the 2006 PRIDE Open Weight Grand Prix.
His first match of the tournament was against Dutch fighter Alistair Overeem, winning via kimura in the second round. He then faced former Pride FC heavyweight champion, Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira in the quarter finals, losing via decision.
Fabricio then had a short stint in 2 Hot 2 Handle, facing Aleksander Emelianenko in a Heavyweight bout, beating the Russian by submission via arm triangle choke.
UFC
Fabricio Werdum debuted in the UFC on 21 April 2007 at UFC 70: Nations Collide.
He faced former UFC Heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski, losing a close decision. He began to train in Brazil at Chute Boxe and he is now more aggressive, showing improvement in striking, particularly his Muay Thai.
He weathered an early striking onslaught only to secure the Muay Thai clinch and connect with several knee strikes before taking Gonzaga to the ground and finishing him with punches. Werdum achieved full mount with less than 30 seconds to go in the round and connected with a number of unanswered punches.
Werdum is currently training with the Chute Boxe MMA team.
Strikeforce
Werdum has recently signed with Strikeforce. He made his debut at Strikeforce: Carano vs. http:www.chuteboxe.com.br/2007/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=115&Itemid=2.