Fabricio Werdum (6)
Brazilian submission expert Fabricio Werdum may not be the most active heavyweight on the UFC roster, but he’s done enough over the past few years to be called champion heading into 2016.
While many still believe that his title-winning victory over Cain Velasquez at UFC 188 was a product of Velasquez gassing at Mexico City’s high altitude, Werdum’s body of work over his last few outings suggests his evolution has earned him the strap.
From knocking out the likes of Mark Hunt and Mike Russow, to submitting legendary ground wizard Antonio “Minotauro” Rodrigo Nogueira and the aforementioned Velasquez, the 38-year-old has looked unbeatable.
The heavyweight division is easily the most turbulent weight class in all of MMA, so it’s fascinating to see a guy of Werdum’s caliber finally put it all together.
