Werdum blasts TUF Brasil: 'The production didn't give a damn about us'

Werdum during the recording of TUF América Latina in the USA. Photo: Reproduction/Facebook

The presence of Brazilian athletes in the technical command of international editions of the The Ultimate Fighter is not common. To date, only three fighters have held the position: Junior Gypsy, Rodrigo Minotauro e Fabricio Werdum – which currently records the TUF Latin America In the USA. Among those mentioned, the last two were also coaches on TUF Brasil 2. Given their experience in foreign and national reality shows, Werdum drew a parallel between attractions and detonated the Brazilian program, especially with regard to production.

“It's completely different. The organization has no comparison. Production in Brazil didn't give a damn about us. If you wanted a simple shirt to give to a fighter for training, you had to talk to Dana White. The guys (from production) did everything they could to complicate things. Here (in the USA) there is a lot of equipment and there is nothing missing”, said Werdum, in an interview with the “Tatame” magazine website.

Furthermore, the gaucho also complained about the agility in production and stated that he had to wait for hours to start recording TUF Brasil. “Another thing: in Brazil, we waited five hours to be able to record. Here (in the USA), I record quickly and go home. In the United States, they value and respect athletes. In Brazil, they treated us like animals. The quality of the athletes is the same in both places, the guys are very good, but the production of the programs is incomparable”, he analyzed.

At 36, Fabricio Werdum has a record of 18 wins, five losses and one draw. Currently, “Vai Cavalo”, as he is known, records in the United States the Latin American edition of The Ultimate Fighter, whose technical role he shares with the heavyweight champion Cain Velazquez. After the broadcast of the program, on November 15th, Werdum faces Velasquez in the coaches' duel, which takes place at UFC 180, in Mexico City.