Fabricio Werdum pulls out of UFC 196 with injury MMAFighting.com reports that UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum also has pulled from UFC 196 because of injury. The Brazillian was originally scheduled to face Cain Velasquez on Feb. 6, but the AKA product needed to pull out due to a back injury. Werdum released the following statements to Brazillian journalists on Monday. «I was injured, I’ve a foot injury, also have not been able to throw kicks in training for two weeks. I’d still fight Cain since I had been injured the previous time, but I also hurt my back last Friday. I went to the doctor, tried to continue training, but could not spar as I need to spar. I chose not to fight because I am not 100 percent,» he continued. «If Cain was the competition, I’d go on. It’s not his fault, it is the fault of nobody. Injuries occur. They can’t be avoided by you. I have no option. I made this choice because I’m not feeling 100 percent. I made this choice together with my group,» he said. «We decided to not fight. Cain can not fight. I was going to hide the injury one more time, as I always did. I tried to hide it, but could not this time. I can not fight if I am not 100 per cent to put on a series like that I always did. The Brazilian states he is down to battling in»two or three weeks», and is open to facing Velasquez or even Miocic. It took me a long time to get here and win this belt, so be the champion, to throw away everything because I’m not 100 per cent,» Werdum said. «I have to consider everything today, I can not think and behave like I did when I was 20. It’s not like that. Everything changed. I’m 38 now, and I feel I’m at the best moment of my career, and I can’t risk my career because of pride.» No word on what the UFC plans to perform with the UFC 196 following the injury 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 added to May’s UFC Fight Night 87 card. Brown (20-13) is coming off an impressive first round entry victory over Tim Means in UFC 189. He was advised to take on Kelvin Gastelum in UFC Fight Night 78, but had to pull out due to 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 last departure at UFC 194 in December. UFC Fight Night 87 takes place on May 14 in Brazil, but it is unknown where in Brazil this struggle will be taking place. 43 year older and 12-time UFC veteran Anthony Perosh declares retirement»The Hippo» is calling it quits. Perosh (15-10) made the announcement regarding his retirement on Team Perosh website TeamPeroshMMA.com.au,»I’m retiring from fighting in MMA. I’ve had a fantastic career in MMA spanning 12 years, 25 struggles, 15 wins & 5 wins at the UFC all by stoppage and 3 by Rear Naked Choke. I always went out to the win by stoppage and I’m proud of what I have achieved in my career. I am 43 years old (young!) And I told myself I would retire if I either couldn’t keep up with the coaching, didn’t want it anymore or when I lost more than I won. The last fight camps were hard on me physically and mentally. I didn’t get the win and that I knew straight after my final struggle that I had had enough. I’m finishing using a UFC record of 5 wins and 4 losses in the Light Heavyweight division. On the other hand I’m retiring with all my psychological bearings and apart from the usual wear and tear I am physically fit! The following goal is focussing on my two MMA gyms with 650 students and MMA and BJJ competition groups. I’m quite proud of all my students and can’t wait to put all of my time into them and watch them get better and triumph. I am hoping to return in the UFC more than before but this time walking behind my students who make it into the UFC as their trainer and corner. I have learnt a lot in my time from the UFC. You have to surround yourself with great people such as trainers and training partners and avoid the naysayers and haters. Have a dream, train hard and believe in yourself and you will get exactly what you would like. The UFC have been nothing but good to me. Thanks to Dana White, Lorenzo Feritta, Joe Silva and Tom Wright to get the Chance to fight a lot of occasions for the greatest and greatest MMA organisation on Earth. And also a big thank you to Peter Kloczko and all of the support staff in the UFC who made my life a whole lot simpler doing PR and all the paperwork! I would like to thank Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn and the whole group from Jackson-Wink MMA fitness center in Albuquerque for taking me and coaching and training me to my last 3 fights. You all made me feel very welcome and cared for my best interests all of the time and really cared about watching me improve. I am in your group for life! 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 at all 9 of my UFC Light Heavyweight struggles. Thanks to my brother John for being my additional corner in my international fights. Due to Paul Dallow for helping with my patrons and all the UFC paperwork in my first 8 UFC fights and thanks to Reebok for their sponsorship in my last struggle. Eventually, I couldn’t have done it without the unconditional and continuous service over the years of my family, friends and fans. You really make it easier to continue doing exactly what fighters do best that is struggle! Thank you. See you soon! Anthony Perosh»The Hippo»» UFC Road into the Octagon: UFC on FOX 18 — Ryan Bader vs. Anthony Johnson

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