MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - NOVEMBER 15: Fabricio Werdum of Brazil celebrates after knocking out Mark Hunt in their interim UFC heavyweight championship bout during the UFC 180 event at Arena Ciudad de Mexico on November 15, 2014 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
UFC heavyweight champion released a statement Wednesday responding to the backlash he received from pulling out of UFC 196 earlier this week.
Werdum, who was scheduled to take on Cain Velasquez in Las Vegas on Feb. 6, cited back and foot injuries as the reason, and we wrote Tuesday that it was probably the right move. Velasquez pulled out of the fight on Sunday, and the UFC announced his replacement, No. 1 heavyweight contender Stipe Miocic, the following Monday.
The Brazilian says that he's been receiving a lot of backlash for his decision, and feels for those like Jon Jones, Anderson Silva and Ronda Rousey, who suffered similar backlash after their respective losses and transgressions.
Check out Werdum's full statement below. (h/t MMAFighting)
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