Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Fabricio Werdum is preparing to battle Ben Rothwell in the co-main event of UFC 211.
Werdum is also a longtime rival of another former UFC Heavyweight Champion in Junior Dos Santos, whom he compares to UFC Lightweight Champion Conor McGregor.
"I have no preferences (winner of UFC 211 main event),” Werdum said to Portal Do Vale Tudo. “I lost to both guys and I'd like to pay them back. Be it Miocic or Dos Santos, my goal is the belt, no matter who has it. If it's Cigano, though, it'll be good to stop him from being the Brazilian Conor McGregor. The way he's been talking lately is not cool, it doesn't match him. I don't know him, but this whole Brazilian McGregor thing doesn't suit him. It's actually ridiculous, to be honest."
The former champion has competed once since he lost the heavyweight title, which was a decision win over Travis Browne at UFC 203. Before he can think of getting another title shot, Werdum first has to get past a dangerous fighter in Ben Rothwell.
"Ben Rothwell is a dangerous guy,” Werdum said. “He has wins over Barnett and Overeem, he's dangerous because he's big. He's a strong fat guy, so I need to fight a strategic, intelligent fight. We have to put on a show, but sometimes the styles don't match so you have to know how to use strategy. Winning is what matters, having my arm raised. Should I win this fight, I don't see anyone else to fight for the title but me."
UFC 211 takes place on Saturday, May 13 from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas with Stipe Miocic and Junior Dos Santos headlining.
