Fabricio Werdum will not be participating in the 2025 GFL season.
The GFL announced that the former UFC heavyweight champion is out of the competition due to an “injury.” However, Werdum clarified on the Mundo da Luta podcast that his decision was due to a loss of motivation after Frank Mir, his expected opponent, withdrew due to injury.
Werdum, nicknamed “Vai Cavalo,” was scheduled to face Mir in the first half of 2025. However, Mir`s injury prompted Werdum to reconsider his participation and ultimately withdraw.
“I won’t fight for GFL anymore,” Werdum stated. “I hope it becomes a great event, and I support them in giving opportunities to others, especially legends, to fight again. I want it to succeed. I understand that these things happen, with some uncertainty in the initial cards as the promotion gets established, but I’ve decided not to fight.”
“I’ve returned home and am currently in Florianópolis. I have changed my plans completely and am returning to my life without focusing on fighting. I am 47 years old now.”
Werdum`s last fight was in a bare-knuckle MMA event against Junior dos Santos in September 2023, where he lost by decision. Before that, he competed in the PFL in May 2021 against Renan Ferreira, losing via TKO, a result later changed to a no-contest because Ferreira appeared to tap out moments before the TKO.
Wesley Dunham