Fabricio Werdum visualizes finishing Francis Ngannou on the ground

Fabricio Werdum is edging closer to a return to the octagon, and he already has his eyes set on a top heavyweight contender.

Former UFC heavyweight champion Werdum (23-8-1 MMA, 11-5 UFC) believes he can finish Francis Ngannou (14-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) if the two were to fight. Speaking to Sherdog during Mike Tyson’s recent celebrity golf event in Dana Point, Calif., Werdum said he believes he can take out “The Predator.”

“The big guy, Francis Ngannou, he’s like a huge guy, strong guy but I visualize the fight with him, and I saw when I finish him,” Werdum said. “I visualize my fights all the time. When I had a fight vs. Cain Velasquez, when I got the belt, I visualized everything. I go to Mexico, I stayed there two months, I was very focused. I like the fight vs. Francis Ngannou – a big challenge for me. I know he’s strong, but I believe I finish him on the ground.”

Werdum hasn’t competed since his knockout loss to Alexander Volkov at UFC Fight Night 127 in March 2018, and is currently serving a two-year suspension for an out-of-competition urine test conducted on April 2018, which contained the steroid trenbolone and its metabolite epitrenbolone. As it stands, he will be eligible to return in May 2020, and he is looking forward to challenging all the fresh blood that continues to emerge in the division.

“It’s changed a lot because the heavyweight division, there’s a big difference to the other ones because the other ones are good, too, but heavyweights, just one punch, and that’s it,” Werdum said. “It happens a lot of times. I want to come back soon to challenge all the guys.”