While sharing behind-the-scenes details of his bareknuckle MMA bout against Junior dos Santos, Fabricio Werdum made an interesting revelation.
Werdum, who lost a split decision to dos Santos at Gamebred FC 5, made a point of praising his opponent but also revealed that he competed with two broken toes in the bout. “Vai Cavalo” said on his YouTube channel that he was only able to fight because he secretly received a (splint) in his foot with an unwitting commission official nearby in his locker room.
“There's no way to take away Cigano's merits. He imposed his strategy 100% and deserved to win,” Werdum said. “But what few people know is that I broke two toes on my left foot 10 days before the fight. Obviously, if the commission found out the fight would be canceled, because it was really serious. The impression I had was that the toes were hanging down only by the skin.”
Werdum shared how his team was able to conceal the injury.
“While my doctor friend, Dr. Murilo, applied the [splint] to my foot, I put [Renato Sobral] and another friend in front,” Werdum said. “As everyone was watching the fights on TV, the commissioner didn't realize that the needle was already in my foot, so I was able to go in to fight — even without being able to kick properly with my left foot.”
Werdum came away impressed by the impact of a punch in a bareknuckle bout.
“When his hand touched me, I could smell blood right away,” he said. “In fact, it is very different and much more harmful.”
Werdum also addressed his rivalry with dos Santos. “Cigano” defeated Werdum via first-round TKO under the UFC banner in October 2008, but Werdum says he no longer harbors any animosity toward his fellow Brazilian.
"The idea I had about him changed 100%,” Werdum said. “He was very noble. I already knew he was a good person, but I didn't want to accept it because he had already beaten me and I didn't want to be friends with him. I don't want to be friends from a guy who knocked me out. But in this fight I saw that everything they say about him is true. If we fight again it will be 100% professional.”
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