ABU DHABI – It appears there’s a bit of history between Alexander Gustafsson and Fabricio Werdum.
Gustafsson (18-6 MMA, 10-6 UFC), the former three-time UFC light heavyweight title challenger, will move up to heavyweight to face former champion Werdum (23-9-1 MMA, 11-6 UFC) on Saturday at UFC on ESPN 14, which takes place at Flash Forum at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, and airs on ESPN.
Though Gustafsson is entering a new weight class, he’s already quite familiar with Werdum, he said. When asked about a sparring session in 2012 where Werdum claims he got the better Gustafsson, “The Mauler” set the record straight and revealed he actually got the better of the Brazilian, and even “broke his nose.”
“We had a good sparring,” Gustafsson told reporters, including MMA Junkie, on Tuesday at UFC on ESPN 14 media day. “I went all in, him and me and it was a good sparring. I don’t remember who I was fighting back then, but I was in camp, he was in camp for a fight, but make history short, I beat him in that sparring session. I beat him bad…then he didn’t want to spar me no more.”
Gustafsson said he’s certainly not expecting that version of Werdum on fight night. He suspects Werdum, who also hasn’t been too active as of late, to be in good form.
“That was a different world, a different time,” Gustafsson said. “I see Werdum in his best shape right now. I actually saw him out there and said hello to him, but he looks fit, he looks ready to go so I’m really excited for this one.”
Gustafsson’s fight at UFC on ESPN 14 marks his first since June 2019. The Swede walked away from the sport after suffering a fourth-round submission loss to Anthony Smith at UFC on ESPN+ 11 in his hometown of Stockholm.
He admits that he reacted emotionally when announcing his retirement and the heartbreaking loss to Smith prompted that decision. At heavyweight, he has new life and now that he no longer has to drain himself to make the 205-pound limit. Because of that, Gustafsson said he expects to have numerous advantages in his new weight class.
“My speed (will be key),” Gustafsson said. “I basically took everything from the light heavyweight division to heavyweight now, and I feel so much stronger. I perform better now than I did as a light heavyweight in my training camps so I feel strong, I feel fast, I’m ready.
“I want to be active. I’m here to stay, I’m not going anywhere so let’s see what happens.”
Alexander Gustafsson on sparring Fabricio Werdum years prior to UFC on ESPN 14: 'I beat him bad'
