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Where does Fabricio Werdum stand in the UFC's heavyweight pecking order after UFC 143 win over Roy Nelson?
RICH HANSEN, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
Werdum's on the outside looking in for now, but he is the first guy after Cain Velasquez and Frank Mir. Werdum himself seems to be fine with that, since he has said he should get three or four wins before getting a title shot.
FRANK HYDEN, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
I think he's in the tier just below Junior Dos Santos. I don't think Werdum is a real threat to JDS, but he can make waves against guys like Cain Velasquez and Frank Mir. Werdum has just about topped off so I don't think he'll ever win the title, but it's possible he could pull off the upset given the right circumstances. A lot of things would have to fall into place for that to happen, though.
ERIC HOBAUGH, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Realistically, the UFC needs to give Fabricio Werdum at least a fight or two against top ten fighters before giving him a title shot. I think Werdum is #5 in the world rankings. I think he will be a handful for whoever he fights next.
BRAD WALKER, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
More because of his past than his fight against Nelson I'd say Werdum needs atleast one more fight to be considered in the title picture. I'd say he's behind Velasquez, Mir, Overeem and JDS, but more than likely ahead of guys like Carwin, Nogueira, and Kongo. His Muay Thai looked absolutely nasty throughout that fight and the amount of damage he did to Roy Nelson's face was completely insane. Werdum is held back slightly by how he played dead for three rounds against Alistair Overeem in his last fight in Strikeforce, but he can make up for that if he moves forward and tears through the UFC heavyweight division. Nelson did clock him pretty good a few times but Werdum was able to recover, and I would love to see Werdum match up with Carwin, Velasquez or Kongo. I don't think he's in a spot to fight Frank Mir for a possible title shot, but I do believe if he beats one of the aforementioned guys he's right up in the top five.
GRIFFIN MARSH, MMATORCH CONTRIBUTOR
To me Werdum is in the mix in the top four HW fighters in the world. He proved that a bunch of wins against mostly weak competition doesn't mean a fighter belongs by shattering the 'myth' of Fedor. He has fought brilliantly since his loss to JDS; and that loss was just as much Werdum's fault as it was due to JDS's powerful and skillful fist. Would he beat JDS? Possibly, but I wouldn't bet on it. I will most likely place my top heavyweights as: 1) JDS 2) Cain 3) Werdum 4) Alistair 5) Frank Mir. Let's not forget Werdum has made Alistair say "uncle" before.
JASON AMADI, MMATORCH COLUMNIST
Fabricio Werdum is probably just below Frank Mir and Cain Velasquez in terms of title contention, but the division is wide open beyond that and with Mir vs. Velasquez supposedly on tap for a card this May, Werdum could really face anyone and bide his time until the situation resolves itself.
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