Fabricio Werdum pulls from UFC 196 with harm MMAFighting.com reports that UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum also has pulled from UFC 196 because of injury. The Brazillian was originally scheduled to confront Cain Velasquez on Feb. 6, but the AKA merchandise needed to pull out because of a back injury. Werdum released the following statements to Brazillian journalists on Monday. “I was already injured, I’ve a foot injury, and have not managed to throw kicks in training for 2 weeks. I would still fight Cain since I had been injured the last time, but I also hurt my back last Friday. I went into the doctor, attempted to continue training, but couldn’t spar as I need to spar. I decided to not fight because I’m not 100 per cent,” he continued. “If Cain was the opponent, I would go on. It is not his fault, but it is the fault of nobody. Injuries occur. You can’t avoid them. I don’t have any alternative. I made this decision because I am not feeling 100 percent. I made this decision with my group,” he said. “We decided to not fight. Cain can not fight. I was going to hide the injury an additional time, as I always did. I tried to conceal it, but couldn’t this time. I can not fight if I am not 100 percent to put on a series like I always did. The Brazilian states he is down to battling at”two or three weeks”, and can be amenable to confronting Velasquez or even Miocic. It took me a long time to get here and win that belt, be the champion, to throw away everything because I am not 100 per cent,” Werdum explained. “I need to consider everything today, I can’t think and behave like I did when I was 20. It’s not like this anymore. Everything changed. I am 38 now, and I think I’m in the best moment of my career, and I can not risk my career due to pride.” No word on what the UFC plans to do with the UFC 196 following the accident news. Matt Brown vs. Demian Maia set for UFC Fight Night 87 in Brazil UFC officials announced Monday that an interesting welterweight match up between Matt Brown and Demian Maia was inserted to May’s UFC Fight Night 87 card. Brown (20-13) is coming off an impressive first round entry victory over Tim Means at UFC 189. He was scheduled to shoot on Kelvin Gastelum at UFC Fight Night 78, but had to pull out because of injury. This will be Browns first time competing in Brazil. Maia (22-6) has won four-straight struggles for example an impressive unanimous decision victory over Gunnar Nelson in his final bout at UFC 194 in December. UFC Fight Night 87 occurs on May 14 in Brazil, but it’s unknown where in Brazil this fight will be happening. 43 year old and 12-time UFC veteran Anthony Perosh announces retirement”The Hippo” is calling it quits. Perosh (15-10) made the statement regarding his retirement on Team Perosh site TeamPeroshMMA.com.au,”I’m retiring from fighting in MMA. I’ve had a great career in MMA spanning 12 years, 25 fights, 15 wins & 5 wins at the UFC all by stoppage and 3 by Rear Naked Choke. I always went out for the win by stoppage and I’m proud of what I have achieved in my career. I am 43 years old (young!) And that I told myself I would retire if I either couldn’t keep up with this coaching, didn’t want it anymore or when I lost more than I won. The previous fight camps were tough on me physically and mentally. I didn’t get the win and that I knew straight after my last fight that I had had enough. I am finishing using a UFC record of 5 wins and 4 losses at the Light Heavyweight division. On the bright side I am retiring with all my mental bearings and apart from the usual wear and tear I’m physically fit! The next goal is focussing on my two MMA gyms with 650 students and MMA and BJJ competition groups. I am very proud of all of my students and can not wait to place all of my time in to them and see them get better and triumph. I am hoping to be back in the UFC more than previously but this time walking behind my pupils who make it to the UFC as their coach and corner. I’ve learnt a good deal in my time from the UFC. You need to surround yourself with good people such as trainers and training partners and avoid the naysayers and haters. Have a fantasy, train hard and believe in yourself and you will get what you want. The UFC are nothing but great to me. Thank you to Dana White, Lorenzo Feritta, Joe Silva and Tom Wright for the opportunity to fight a lot of times for the greatest and greatest MMA organisation on Earth. And also a big thank you to Peter Kloczko and each of the support staff at the UFC who made my life a lot easier doing PR and all of the paperwork! I would like to thank Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn and the whole group from Jackson-Wink MMA gym in Albuquerque for taking me and training and training me to my last 3 fights. You all made me feel very welcome and looked after my best interests all of the time and really cared about watching me improve. I am on your group ! I want to thank all my pupils and training partners out of my MMA gym SPMA, my Australian coaches Steve Rudic, Shaun Sullivan and Denis Roberts. Extra big thanks to Steve Rudic for being my initial striking coach and being in my corner in all 9 of my UFC Light Heavyweight fights. Thanks to my brother John for being my additional corner in my international fights. Due to Paul Dallow for helping with my sponsors and all the UFC paperwork in my first 8 UFC struggles and thanks to Reebok for their livelihood in my last struggle. Eventually, I could not have done it without the unconditional and continuous service over the years of my family, friends and lovers. You really make it easier to continue doing exactly what fighters do best that is struggle! Thank you. See you all soon! Anthony Perosh”The Hippo”” UFC Road into the Octagon: UFC on FOX 18 — Ryan Bader vs. Anthony Johnson

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