Cigano analyzes Werdum's victory: 'If it had been against Velasquez, it would have been difficult to have won'

J.dos Santos (photo) returns to the Octagon on 13/12. Photo: Josh Hedges/UFC

If there is an athlete in the heavyweight category who has the ability to analyze the unification of the belts between Fabricio Werdum e Cain Velazquez, he is Junior Gypsy. With a trilogy against the North American and a victory over the Brazilian on his resume, the former champion is knowledgeable when it comes to the duo that holds the linear and interim titles in the 120 kg division. In an exclusive interview with SUPER FIGHTS, Cigano commented on the duel between Werdum and Velasquez and spoke about the Brazilian's chances, which according to him directly involve a better performance than in the triumph over Mark Hunt last Saturday (15th).

“I think that if this fight (with the Mark Hunt, at UFC 180) was against Cain Velazquez It would have been very difficult for Werdum, with that performance, to have surprised and won”, pondered the former champion. “Werdum, in the fight he had against Travis Browne, I thought he did very well. Browne is a great fighter, Werdum was very tough, he showed his muay thai and he improved a lot in the standing part. He really put on a show, so much so that he managed to fight for the belt next. Now, in this fight he fought against the Mark Hunt, he wasn't that impressive. In my opinion, he was actually losing the fight both in the first round and at the beginning of the second, when he managed to land that really good knee. This means that there was a strategy, a planning, and he said he thought about it at this moment. So, this is his merit. We also have to say that the Mark Hunt He's not a guy to look down on. He is very dangerous. But his performance left something to be desired at the beginning of the fight, as I said, even causing him to lose. So, Velasquez ends up being the big favorite for this duel against Werdum, but a fight is a fight. We know that anything can happen and Werdum certainly has enough skills to surprise and take this fight.”

Cigano also gave his opinion on what would be the best strategy for Werdum in the duel and explained why he considers Velasquez the favorite not only for this duel, but for any challenge in the heavyweight division. “I think it's an important moment that Werdum is going through and I think he has a chance, especially if he's smart and, as he's the best jiu-jitsu athlete in the category, uses his jiu-jitsu, which is your strongest weapon. So, I think he has to explore this a lot, including against Velasquez. Now, any athlete in the category today who fights Velasquez, Velasquez will be the favorite. Not just because he's a champion, but I think mainly because of his physical conditioning. The guy is a little unusual. He's not a normal heavyweight because he doesn't get tired. I think this is his strongest characteristic: having an enviable physical condition, being able to fight five rounds and come out very well after the fight. This is something very atypical for heavyweights and puts him in a privileged place,” he commented.

Rematch against Werdum is not ruled out

Following the chat with the SUPER FIGHTS, Junior Gypsy was asked about the chances of facing Fabricio Werdum, in case of Cain Velazquez to present physical problems again and not be able to defend his title. Regarding this possibility, Cigano, who faces Stipe Miocic on December 13th, he said he believed that a possible replacement would emerge from this duel and did not close the door on a hypothetical rematch against Werdum, whom he already beat in 2008 in his Ultimate debut.

“I don’t choose opponents and that’s very true. I always want to fight the best, regardless of who it is. But, for sure, I'm interested in fighting anyone, including Werdum, if that's the mission the UFC gives me. So, I think now my focus is on Miocic, that's all I'm thinking about. And the winner of this fight, if Velasquez doesn't return and even if he returns, could be the next challenger for the belt”, said the heavyweight.

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At 30, Junior Gypsy has a professional record of 16 wins and three losses. Former heavyweight champion, Cigano has been away from the octagon for a long time, since the end of the trilogy against Cain Velazquez in October last year, and returns to the ring on December 13th, when he faces the North American of Croatian descent Stipe Miocic in the main fight of UFC on FOX 13, in Phoenix (USA).

The full interview with Junior Gypsy ao SUPER FIGHTS you can see it during the celebration of the site's seventh anniversary, this weekend.