Former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum revealed some interesting details about his recent meeting with Jon Jones backstage at ADCC.
“It was so great to see Jones again,” Werdum said. “I couldn’t believe my eyes when he asked me to teach him how to make a happy face.”
The Brazilian heavyweight boxer recalled that he and Jones became close after he received VIP treatment from a local promoter in Russia and in the Brazilian state of Goai on separate occasions.
“It was a good opportunity to get to know both of them. [Jones] “We had a great time together as people,” Werdum said. “I remember the parties we had in Russia, and the fights and sparring in a little hotel room in Goias, where we almost destroyed the room. Two big guys, Wanderlei. [Silva] And Rafael Cordeiro. Imagine how crazy that was.”
Werdum revealed that when he fought Jones for the heavyweight title at UFC 198 in 2016 and was knocked out in the first round, Jones asked him what he thought about Stipe Miocic.
“I told Jones I didn’t have anything to add because I didn’t have time. [get a] feel [for] “Miocic,” Werdum laughed, reflecting on his title loss, “like I told Jones, I didn’t learn anything from him, but I wish I had the same hunger and focus that I had when we fought.” [Cain] Velasquez won the belt. To be honest, I wasn’t too excited about defending it in front of 40,000 people in my hometown of Curitiba’s soccer stadium, so I didn’t train as hard. I definitely deserved the loss. I’m not going to take Miocic at his word, but if I’d at least been as hungry as he is, it would’ve been a great fight.”
Werdum also told Jones that he expects “Bones” to win the anticipated matchup with Miocic, which is rumored to take place at UFC 309 but has not been officially announced by the promotion.
“I told him, Miocic [down] I will punish Miocic until the referee stops the fight,” Werdum said.
Werdum revealed that Jones made him emotional when he said goodbye.
“He looked me in the eye and said, ‘You’re a really good person, with a big heart.’ [Jon Jones] “It was really special for me,” Werdum said. “I sent him a WhatsApp message thanking him for his kind words and wishing him the best of luck. It was definitely a great weekend of meeting people. After meeting Mark Carr and telling him how in 2003 he revolutionised my career by inviting me to coach him, it was great to meet Jones as well.”
