Two fights in 1 evening assisted lure Fabricio Werdum to PFL

PFL president Ray Sefo understood he hit the jackpot when he landed Fabricio Werdum.

Following screening no cost company, Werdum (24-9-1) opted to signal a contract to join PFL’s heavyweight division for the approaching 2021 year, exactly where he’ll expend the closing chapter of his occupation.

Considering his title price and accolades in the activity, Sefo realized he experienced to soar at the option to signal the former UFC heavyweight champion, who PFL CEO Peter Murray dubbed as the “Tom Brady of MMA.”

“Once I understood he was starting to be a totally free agent, of course I hassled Ali about it and Ali experienced a handful of other gives on the table, but I’m just grateful that we were being able to operate it out and finalize this deal, so it was awesome,” Sefo explained to MMA Junkie. “I’m tremendous delighted about it.”

Werdum has taken portion in many tournaments right before below both the Pleasure and Strikeforce banners, but has never ever competed twice on the similar evening in MMA opposition, which Sefo thinks played a issue in swaying him to sign with PFL, with the promotion’s conclusion-of-time playoffs offering that challenge.

“The 1 issue that he’s definitely thrilled about, and it goes back to the outdated times, but he was chatting about undertaking the ‘two fights in a person night’ issue and so that kinda got him psyched and of program a couple other points that we were in a position to offer him from what I have an understanding of, it wasn’t feasible somewhere else,” Sefo stated. “So that kind of solidified the offer for him and of study course the fact that he’s on ESPN and the actuality that he receives to continue to be dwelling as effectively so I believe there are a great deal of factors that came into that persuaded him to indicator with us.”

Werdum will now sign up for the likes of previous Bellator welterweight champion Rory MacDonald, previous UFC lightweight Olivier Aubin-Mercier and standout wrestler Bubba Jenkins as the newest additions to the PFL roster.