Fabricio Werdum says Fedor Emelianenko, not Daniel Cormier, is greatest heavyweight of all time
Heading into Saturday night’s headliner at UFC 241, many believe Daniel Cormier has the chance to cement himself as the greatest heavyweight of all time.
Fabricio Werdum doesn’t agree, though. He believes Fedor Emelianenko is the greatest heavyweight of all time. Speaking to MMA Fighting and other journalists this past weekend in Uruguay, Werdum said he respects Cormier’s achievements but believes that Emelianenko remains the best ever and isn’t in a position to be unseated.
“In my opinion, for sure (Cormier) is a very good fighter – two belts, different divisions – but the best fighter, in my opinion, is Fedor,” Werdum said. “He deserves (it). Ten years, he never lost before, and I believe Fedor continues to be the best heavyweight in the world.”
Emelianenko (38-6) went on a 10-year unbeaten run, winning the PRIDE heavyweight championship and a remarkable 27 fights in a row.
Until he ran into Werdum in 2010.
Former UFC heavyweight champion Werdum was actually the one to snap Emelianenko’s streak, shocking the world with a first-round submission win under the Strikeforce banner. Despite that, Werdum doesn’t classify himself as the greatest.
“Not because I finished him,” Werdum said. “Before, I looked at him as my idol, but when I fought him, I wanted to finish him. That’s it.”
Cormier (22-1 MMA, 11-1 UFC) defeated Stipe Miocic (18-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC) via first-round knockout at UFC 226 in July 2018 to claim the heavyweight championship. When the two rematch later this week, Werdum believes Miocic gets the job done this time around.
“This fight is so hard for Cormier now,” Werdum said. “I don’t believe Cormier has the same focus as before. He’s like a heavyweight now, for sure, but I feel like maybe a Stipe Miocic victory on points. Miocic will beat him this time I think.”
UFC 241 takes place Saturday at Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.