Werdum sinks a guillotine on Kyle / Photo: Esther Lin / Strikeforce.
Fabricio Werdum is pleased and some promising plans for his career. The day after the Brazilian’s big win at Strikeforce - with a guillotine hold on Mike Kyle just 1:24 min into the first round – GRACIEMAG.com caught up with an excited Werdum at home, enjoying some down time with his family and his friends, the couple Evangelista and Cris Cyborg.
At the table, the group savored a sushi meal. But the best flavor was surely the taste of victory the two fighters who did battle the previous day were relishing. Both Cris and Werdum saw their wins come while still in the first round. The former enjoyed the accomplishment of having put the first blemish on Gina Carano’s record in the main event of the evening, while Werdum rediscovered his winning ways in his debut at Strikeforce, after a less-than-ideal stint in the UFC.
“We’re all eating sushi here. My brother, Cris and her husband, my wife, daughter and I. It’s pure joy. After winning like we did, by submission and knockout, especially as we train together, we’re double overjoyed,” remarked Werdum to GRACIEMAG.com.
Mike Kyle, who had surprised Rafael Feijao in his last appearance at Strikeforce, could not withstand Werdum’s ground game. “I don’t usually do the guillotine, it’s too hard. But I saw the position come up and I pulled guard, because if I didn’t sink it there, I could go for a triangle, an armbar or sweep. I was really confident the guillotine was snug, though.”
The Brazilian now has his eyes on the prime rib of the grappling universe, the ADCC in Barcelona. “This year I want to win my category and the absolute. That’s my objective. I’m already the champion of the over 99kg division, but I want to win the absolute, it’s a dream of mine. I love grappling without the gi,” he said.
Confident, the fighter wants to put on a first-rate performance. To do so, he relies on a little extra help. “You can be sure I’ll have the biggest cheering section. My cheering section in Spain is impressive. I think I’ll have more than 300 people rooting for me, wearing my t-shirt, making some major noise,” said the black belt, whose academy, Werdum Combat Team, has its headquarters in Madrid.
In good cheer, Werdum had time enough to tell of how he’d almost forgotten that he’s known Mike Kyle a long time: “I know him. I was with him for 40 days in Croatia, I just didn’t remember him. I’ve taken so many blows to the head,” he laughed.
“My manager came up to me and asked whether I knew Mike Kyle. I said no. Some time later, like a week before the fight, I had a shock: ‘Shoot! I was with that guy for 40 days when I lived for two years with Mirko [Cro Cop].’ We trained in the same house, ate and trained together, I just didn’t remember.
“I’m really happy to return in grand style. I’m leaner and I think I’ll do better at this weight. I was really heavy. The other day I bumped into Minotauro at Wanderlei Silva’s gym in Las Vegas. We had lost contact, and Minota remarked that we needed to be quicker, because we’re heavyweights and can’t be slow. We have to be heavyweights, but quicker. I was weighing 111kg and I dropped to 103kg. I’m feeling much better at this weight,” said Werdum in finishing.
