Fabricio Werdum pulls from UFC 196 with injury MMAFighting.com reports that UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum also has pulled out of UFC 196 due to injury. The Brazillian was originally scheduled to confront Cain Velasquez on Feb. 6, but the AKA merchandise had to pull out due to a back injury. Werdum published the next statements to Brazillian journalists on Monday. “I was injured, I have a foot injury, and have not been able to throw kicks in training for two weeks. I would still struggle Cain because I was injured the last time, but that I also hurt my back last Friday. I went to the doctor, tried to continue training, but couldn’t spar as I should spar. I decided not to fight because I’m not 100 per cent,” he continued. “If Cain was the opponent, I’d go on. It’s not his fault, it is the fault of nobody. Injuries happen. You can not avoid them. I have no alternative. I made this decision because I am not feeling 100 percent. I made this choice together with my team,” he explained. “We decided not to fight. Cain can not fight. I was going to hide the harm an additional time, as I always did. I tried to conceal it, but could not this time. I can’t fight if I am not 100 percent to wear a show like that I always did. The Brazilian states he is down to battling in”two or three weeks”, and can be open to confronting Velasquez or even Miocic. It took me a while to get here and win that belt, become the winner, to throw away everything because I am not 100 percent,” Werdum explained. “I need to consider everything today, I can’t think and behave like I did when I was 20. It’s not like that anymore. Everything changed. I’m 38 now, and I feel I am in the best moment of my career, and that I can not risk my career due to pride.” No word on exactly what the UFC plans to perform with the UFC 196 following the accident news. Matt Brown vs. Demian Maia set for UFC Fight Night 87 at Brazil UFC officials announced Monday that an intriguing welterweight match up between Matt Brown and Demian Maia has been inserted to May’s UFC Fight Night 87 card. Brown (20-13) is coming off an impressive first round entry victory over Tim Means at UFC 189. He had been advised to take on Kelvin Gastelum in UFC Fight Night 78, but had to pull out due to injury. This is Browns first time competing in Brazil. Maia (22-6) has won four-straight fights including an impressive unanimous decision victory over Gunnar Nelson in his last departure at UFC 194 in December. UFC Fight Night 87 occurs on May 14 in Brazil, but it is unknown where in Brazil this struggle will be happening. 43 year older and 12-time UFC veteran Anthony Perosh declares retirement”The Hippo” is calling it quits. Perosh (15-10) made the announcement regarding his retirement on Team Perosh site TeamPeroshMMA.com.au,”I am retiring from fighting in MMA. I have had a fantastic career in MMA spanning 12 decades, 25 fights, 15 wins & 5 wins at the UFC all by stoppage and 3 by Rear Naked Choke. I always went out to the win by stoppage and I am proud of what I have achieved in my career. I’m 43 years old (young!) And I told myself I’d retire if I couldn’t keep up with the training, didn’t want it anymore or if I lost more than I won. The last fight camps were tough on me emotionally and emotionally. I didn’t get the win and that I knew right after my last struggle that I had had enough. I am finishing with a UFC record of 5 wins and 4 losses at the Light Heavyweight division. On the other hand I am retiring with all my mental bearings and apart from the usual wear and tear I’m physically fit! The following aim is focussing on my 2 MMA gyms with 650 students and MMA and BJJ competition teams. I am quite proud of all my students and can’t wait to put all my time in to them and watch them get better and succeed. I am hoping to return in the UFC more than previously but that time walking behind my pupils who make it into the UFC as their coach and corner. I’ve learnt a good deal in my time in the UFC. You need to surround yourself with good people such as trainers and training partners and steer clear of the naysayers and haters. Have a fantasy, train hard and believe in yourself and you’ll get what you want. The UFC are nothing but great to me. Thank you to Dana White, Lorenzo Feritta, Joe Silva and Tom Wright to get the opportunity to fight a lot of occasions for the greatest and best MMA organisation on Earth. And also a big thank you to Peter Kloczko and all of the support staff in the UFC who made my life a lot easier doing PR and all the paperwork! I want to thank Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn along with the entire group from Jackson-Wink MMA fitness center in Albuquerque for taking me and training and coaching me to my last 3 fights. You all made me feel very welcome and looked after my best interests all the time and really cared about watching me improve. I’m on your team ! I want to thank all of my students and training partners out of my own MMA gym SPMA, my Australian trainers Steve Rudic, Shaun Sullivan and Denis Roberts. Extra big thanks to Steve Rudic for being my first striking coach and being in my corner in all 9 of my UFC Light Heavyweight fights. Thanks to my brother John for being my additional corner in my international fights. Due to Paul Dallow for helping with my sponsors and all of the UFC paperwork in my first 8 UFC fights and thanks to Reebok for their livelihood in my last struggle. Eventually, I couldn’t have done it with no unconditional and constant support over the years of my loved ones, friends and fans. You really make it easier to continue doing what fighters do best that is struggle! Thank you. See you soon! Anthony Perosh”The Hippo”” UFC Road into the Octagon: UFC on FOX 18 — Ryan Bader vs. Anthony Johnson
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