Back After Suspension: Fabricio Werdum Calls for Aleksei Oleinik to Be Opponent for UFC Return

(Photo Credit: Per Haljestam-USA TODAY Sports)

Fabricio Werdum is soon to be back after suspension and return to the UFC. He was one of the best heavyweights in the world at one point. Werdum captured the heavyweight strap in the UFC, beating up Cain Velasquez along the way. However after being tested positive for trenbolone and epitrenbolone metabolites in an out-of-comp drug test in April 2018, Werdum was ordered a two-year ineligibility period. 

He has recently been granted a suspension reduction by the United States Anti-Doping Agency. The ineligibility period began on May 22nd 2018, but according to MMA Junkie, due to the suspension reduction, Werdum is now eligible to return to the Octagon on April 1st 2020.

The last time Wedrum fought was March 2018 when he was knocked out by Alexander Volkov. But since it’s time for his UFC return, Fabricio Werdum knows exactly who he wants to fight.

Werdum is getting closer to his UFC return, and he has his eyes fixated on fellow heavyweight submission artist, Aleksei Oleinik. Werdum was impressed by Oleinik’s recent success at UFC 246, where he picked up a ‘Performance of the Night’ submission over Maurice Greene.

(Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas – USA TODAY Sports) January 18, 2020; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Aleksei Oleinik defends against Maurice Greene during UFC 246. 

Oleinik is a fourth degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Ricardo Liborio. Despite being 42, Oleinik is still known as one of the best grapplers in the Heavyweight Division. Calling for Oleinik to join him as his special guest at UFC, Fabricio tweeted on January 19th,

Will the shark take the bait?

“Congratulations @oleynikufc all my respect for you BUT I think my JiuJitsu it’s better, let’s dance you can be my special guest for my return in the UFC.”

Lucy Wynne

BJJ Purple Belt living in, London, England. I began training BJJ back in 2017, when I was at university, and have trained ever since. #OSS Instagram: @journowynne

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