Mike Russow
Heavyweights agree to fight in June
A heavyweight bout between Fabricio Werdum and Mike Russow is planned for the UFC’s return trip to Brazil in June.
Sources with knowledge of the fight booking confirmed to HeavyMMA that verbal agreements are in place for the bout. News of the matchup was first reported Friday night by MMA Fighting. The bout is expected to be part of the UFC’s June card, which has been targeted for Sao Paulo, Brazil – though a date and venue has not been finalized.
Werdum (15-5-1, 3-2 UFC) returned to the UFC last month after a four-fight stretch in Strikeforce that saw him go 3-1, including wins over Antonio Silva and Fedor Emelianenko – becoming the first man to stop the legendary “Last Emperor” in nearly 10 years. At UFC 143, he put on a dominant striking performance, leaving Roy Nelson battered and bloodied in a Fight of the Night unanimous decision victory.
Though Russow (15-1, 1 NC, 4-0 UFC) has not been able to fight that frequently since signing with the UFC, he is unbeaten in the promotion and is unbeaten in the last five years – an 11-fight winning streak. In January in Chicago, where Russow works as a police officer, he outwrestled John-Olav Einemo en route to a unanimous decision victory. Russow is perhaps best known for taking a beating from Todd Duffee into the third round at UFC 114 before stunning him with a two-punch knockout that is considered one of the best comebacks in UFC history.
Though not yet announced, the UFC’s June show in Brazil is likely to be UFC 147. The hope is to have middleweight champion Anderson Silva defend his title against Chael Sonnen, plus a rematch between TUF Brazil coaches Wanderlei Silva and Vitor Belfort.