Fabricio Werdum’s first fight back in the octagon after a two-year USADA suspension will be a battle of experienced submission specialists on Saturday night at UFC 249.
In one corner stands Aleksei Oleinik, a 58-13-1 heavyweight that’s forced 46 opponents to tap over his 24-year career. In the other, there’s Werdum, who has a better grappling credentials, having captured several jiu-jitsu and ADCC titles before claiming the UFC belt. The Brazilian is 23-8-1 as an MMA fighter with 11 submissions.
Both fighters have a long list of impressive victims in MMA, with Werdum tapping the likes of Cain Velasquez, Fedor Emelianenko, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, and Alistair Overeem in rings and cages.