UFC Tonight reported on Wednesday that the heavyweight champion has signed an eight-fight deal worth seven figures with the Las Vegas-based promotion. Exact terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
The 38-year-old known as “Vai Cavalo” is scheduled to defend the heavyweight strap in a rematch against Cain Velasquez at UFC 196 in Las Vegas on Feb. 6. Werdum captured the title by submitting Velasquez with a guillotine choke in the third round of their first meeting at UFC 188 in Mexico City this past June.
Werdum is 8-2 over the course of two separate stints with the Las Vegas-based promotion. The Kings MMA product has won six straight in the Octagon since returning to the UFC in 2012, including victories over Roy Nelson, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Travis Browne and Mark Hunt.