Werdum:"end with Fedor in the first round"

An established and respected veteran of the PRIDE, UFC and Strikeforce promotions, Fabricio Werdum has faced off with many of the best heavyweights MMA has to offer in the eight years the decorated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt has spent in the sport. Already having notched impressive victories over the likes of current Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion Alistair Overeem, Gabriel Gonzaga and Aleksander Emelianenko, Werdum will be taking a step up in competition on June 26 as he faces off with “The Baddest Man On The Planet”, Fedor Emelianenko.

Werdum isn’t kidding himself for one moment heading into this Saturday’s Strikeforce main event in San Jose. He knows the cards are stacked against him in the eyes of many. While confident in his abilities and potential to spoil Fedor’s party, Werdum is eager to convert his many sceptics against the man even he considers to be the best fighter on the planet.

“I know it will be a difficult fight because Fedor Emelianenko is the best in the world,” said Werdum on Inside MMA over the weekend. “I know a lot of people don’t believe in me because Fedor Emelianenko wins every time he fights, but everybody will believe in me after this fight.”

And while Werdum is extremely confident in his abilities regardless of where the fight with Fedor ends up, he’d be lying if he didn’t admit where his strength in the cage lies.

“My ways are on the ground,” said the 32-year-old Chute Boxe trained heavyweight. “I want to go to the ground because I believe in my jiu-jitsu.