Former UFC heavyweight contender Fabricio Werdum won his first MMA fight in more than 14 months Saturday night, defeating Mike Kyle on the Strikeforce: Gina Carano vs. Cyborg undercard.
For Werdum, the fight went exactly as he wanted it: He was able to secure an early takedown, got into good position on the ground, and caught Kyle in a guillotine, forcing him to tap. The first-round submission win was the first victory for Werdum since he beat Brandon Vera in June at UFC 85. Werdum, once considered a potential UFC heavyweight title contender, was dropped by the UFC after Junior dos Santos knocked him out in October at UFC 90.
But while the UFC didn't think Werdum was good enough, there's no question that Werdum is a great Brazilian jiu jitsu practitioner. Werdum is a real threat in a Strikeforce heavyweight division that also includes champion Alistair Overeem, top prospect Brett Rogers and, of course, the best fighter in the world, Fedor Emelianenko.
"I'm so happy," Werdum said afterward. "I trained so hard. I trained so much jiu jitsu. ... I'll fight anybody. Fedor or anyone."
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Carano vs. Cyborg
Cris Cyborg punches Gina Carano in the face at the Strikeforce event on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009, in San Jose, California.
Esther Lin, Strikeforce
Gina Carano's leg gets caught by Cris Cyborg at the Strikeforce event on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009, in San Jose, California.
Esther Lin, Strikeforce
SAN JOSE, CA - AUGUST 15: Cris Cyborg (L) battles Gina Carano during their Middleweight Championship fight at Stikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg on August 15, 2009 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)
Jon Kopaloff, Getty Images
Gina Carano punches Cris Cyborg in the face at the Strikeforce event on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009, in San Jose, California.
Esther Lin, Strikeforce
SAN JOSE, CA - AUGUST 15: Cris Cyborg (R) battles Gina Carano during their Middleweight Championship fight at Stikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg on August 15, 2009 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)
Jon Kopaloff, Getty Images
Cris "Cyborg" Santos, of Brazil, top, punches Gina Carano in a Strikeforce mixed martial arts Female Middleweight Championship match on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009, in San Jose, Calif. Santos won by TKO in the first round to win the championship. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Jeff Chiu, AP
SAN JOSE, CA - AUGUST 15: Cris Cyborg (Top) battles Gina Carano during their Middleweight Championship fight at Stikeforce: Carano vs. Cyborg on August 15, 2009 in San Jose, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)
Jon Kopaloff, Getty Images
Cris "Cyborg" Santos, of Brazil, celebrates after beating Gina Carano in a Strikeforce mixed martial arts Female Middleweight Championship match on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009, in San Jose, Calif. Santos won by TKO in the first round to win the championship. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)Cris "Cyborg" Santos, of Brazil, celebrates after beating Gina Carano in a Strikeforce mixed martial arts Female Middleweight Championship match on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009, in San Jose, Calif. Santos won by TKO in the first round to win the championship. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Jeff Chiu, AP
Cris Cyborg celebrates her victory over Gina Carano to win the Strikeforce title on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009, in San Jose, California.
Esther Lin, Strikeforce
Gegard Mousasi dominates the fight against Babalu Sobral, winning the fight in one minute at the Strikeforce event on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009, in San Jose, California.
Esther Lin, Strikeforce
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