Official: UFC Acquires Werdum, Announces Bulk of UK Card
With the addition of Fabricio Werdum (Pictures), the UFC asserted at a press
conference in Manchester, England on Friday that it was determined
to pillage the PRIDE ranks. Werdum will make his UFC debut April 21
at the M.E.N. Arena in Manchester versus former UFC heavyweight
champion Andrei Arlovski
(Pictures).
A training partner for high-profile heavyweight Mirko Filipovic (Pictures), Werdum took four of six bouts during his time fighting under the PRIDE banner. The Brazilian heavyweight fell short on points against a pair of PRIDE's best: former champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Pictures) and Russian contender Sergei Kharitonov (Pictures).
"Cro Cop" will headline the April 21 bill versus Gabriel Gonzaga (Pictures), the UFC also confirmed. A victory would secure the Croat a UFC heavyweight title shot against the winner between Tim Sylvia (Pictures) and Randy Couture (Pictures), who take to the cage March 3 in Columbus, Ohio.
Also announced for the UFC's first UK card since Matt Hughes (Pictures) stopped Carlos Newton (Pictures) at London's Royal Albert Hall is a showcase bout for British star Michael Bisping (Pictures), who faces Australian journeyman Elvis Sinosic (Pictures). A compelling light heavyweight contests pits Forrest Griffin (Pictures) in another tough test when he climbs back into the Octagon to fight Ryoto Machida (Pictures).
A training partner for high-profile heavyweight Mirko Filipovic (Pictures), Werdum took four of six bouts during his time fighting under the PRIDE banner. The Brazilian heavyweight fell short on points against a pair of PRIDE's best: former champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Pictures) and Russian contender Sergei Kharitonov (Pictures).
"Cro Cop" will headline the April 21 bill versus Gabriel Gonzaga (Pictures), the UFC also confirmed. A victory would secure the Croat a UFC heavyweight title shot against the winner between Tim Sylvia (Pictures) and Randy Couture (Pictures), who take to the cage March 3 in Columbus, Ohio.
Also announced for the UFC's first UK card since Matt Hughes (Pictures) stopped Carlos Newton (Pictures) at London's Royal Albert Hall is a showcase bout for British star Michael Bisping (Pictures), who faces Australian journeyman Elvis Sinosic (Pictures). A compelling light heavyweight contests pits Forrest Griffin (Pictures) in another tough test when he climbs back into the Octagon to fight Ryoto Machida (Pictures).
