Fabricio Werdum
Active 2007–present · rated in 3 editions · peak overall 92.0
Scouting report
Submitting Cain Velasquez at UFC 188 to capture the Undisputed UFC Heavyweight Championship after ending Fedor Emelianenko's 10-year unbeaten streak in Strikeforce, Fabricio "Vai Cavalo" Werdum built a reputation as an accomplished heavyweight submission specialist. Born in Porto Alegre, Brazil, the two-time ADCC World Champion's ground game is reflected in a 98 BJJ rating and 92 Overall score.
Peak ratings
By edition
Werdum went on a four-fight winning streak upon returning to the UFC between 2012 and 2013, outpointing Roy Nelson in Las Vegas, stopping Mike Russow in Belo Horizonte, and submitting Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira with an armbar at UFC on FUEL TV 10 in Fortaleza. His ADCC world championship Jiu-Jitsu and evolved Muay Thai striking are reflected in a 97 BJJ and 80 Boxing.
Werdum captured undisputed UFC heavyweight status between 2014 and 2015, beating Travis Browne over five rounds in Orlando, stopping Mark Hunt with a knee and punches in Mexico City to win the interim title, and submitting Cain Velasquez with a third-round guillotine choke at UFC 188 to become undisputed champion. His submission mastery and dynamic striking anchor his 98 BJJ and 84 Boxing.
After dropping the heavyweight belt to Stipe Miocic at UFC 198 in Curitiba, Werdum defeated Travis Browne in Cleveland, submitted Walt Harris with a first-round armbar, and dominated Marcin Tybura across five rounds in Sydney. His ground game, clinch knees, and fight IQ justify his 97 BJJ and 90 Fight IQ.
Fabricio Werdum and the triangle that ended an era
Fabricio Werdum beat Fedor Emelianenko in 2010 with a triangle armbar, and that is still the fight people bring up first. He later came back to the top promotion, submitted Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira with an armbar in 2013, and beat Cain Velasquez with a guillotine in 2015 to become undisputed champion. Stipe Miocic knocked him out the following year in Curitiba. Choose him for a mix of world class grappling and patient, dangerous striking.
Reading the Werdum card
Boxing. Improved a lot over the years. He threw clean combinations rather than swinging for one shot.
Kickboxing. Solid rather than a specialty. He used it to stay busy on the feet in a 2012 decision win over Roy Nelson.
Wrestling. The lowest number on his card. Big wrestlers can put him down, though he is comfortable there.
BJJ. Elite. An ADCC champion who could finish from almost any position, as Nogueira and Velasquez both found out.
Strength. Strong for the class and well balanced.
Durability. Held up against heavy hitters until the Miocic knockout in 2016.
Cardio. The best of his physical numbers. He stayed patient through five rounds against Travis Browne in 2014.
Fight IQ. His top mental number. He picked when to strike and when to bring it to the mat.
A 98 in BJJ and a mind to use it
BJJ at 98 is the highest rating in the heavyweight pool, and his Fight IQ at 94 is what turns it into wins. He does not rush. He can fight standing until the opponent makes an error and then use a takedown or a submission to finish. Against grapplers he is the better grappler, and against strikers he can hold his own.
Wrestling is the small gap
At 82, Wrestling is his lowest rating, which is a soft criticism in a card with this many strengths. A fighter who can scramble, get to his feet and keep pressure on can neutralise some of his ground game. Add a takedown artist to your lineup if you want to keep the fight where you choose.
Keep exploring
Closest heavyweight profiles to Fabricio Werdum, measured by how near their peak attribute ratings sit across all eight categories.
- Tom Aspinallbest boxing 95 · weakest durability 90
- Ciryl Ganebest kickboxing 93 · weakest wrestling 80
- Antonio Rodrigo Nogueirabest bjj 94 · weakest kickboxing 70
- Jailton Almeidabest bjj 95 · weakest kickboxing 72
- Heavyweight division guide: how the whole division rates and who to draft from it.
- Grappling vs striking in the draft: a guide that fits Fabricio Werdum's strongest attribute, BJJ.
Draft Fabricio Werdum into your build
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Ratings shown are my own estimates, made with AI assistance and informed by how Fabricio Werdum is regarded by the MMA community. They are unofficial and do not constitute an assessment of Fabricio Werdum's real-world abilities. How the ratings are made. See the disclaimer below. Ratings and write-ups by Haaris A. Last reviewed 2026-09-30; spot an error? Tell us. Read our editorial standards.