Manager says Fabricio Werdum will re-enter USADA pool next week

It appears former UFC heavyweight champion, Fabricio Werdum is ready to return to the Octagon. The Brazilian is currently sidelined due to a two-year USADA suspension, but according to his manager, Ali Abdelaziz, Werdum is training and will re-enter the USADA drug testing pool next week.

“Fabricio is going to come back and be a top-five heavyweight in the world,” Ali Abdelaziz told MMA Junkie Radio. “He’s training. He’s doing everything right.”

The former champ asked for his release to be able to fight in Russia after growing frustration with USADA. He was asked to snitch on other fighters, which he did not like. However, his manager says he has accepted the suspension and will return in May 2020 when he is eligible.

But, according to Abdelaziz, he believes his client did not cheat and take any illegal drugs.

“I believe he did not cheat at all, but the system got us,” he said. “But it’s okay. He has one more year, and he’ll be back in the cage.”

Werdum last fought back in March 2018 where he was knocked out by Alex Volkov. Before that, the 41-year-old beat Marcin Tybura and Walt Harris. In his career the veteran has beaten the likes of Cain Velasquez, Fedor Emelianenko, Alistair Overeem and Mark Hunt among others.