Deconstructing MMA Myths... [Part 3] - The Evolution of Werdum´s Striking

[gono btw]

Today :

MYTH: Werdum had no striking b4 his UFC run.

'Evolutionists' often use him as an example of how fighters back then were "one-dimensional" or technically limited.. Werdum would thus be the perfect example of how MMA "evolved", according to them.

The truth is...

They repeat clichés heard from MMA commentators who were too lazy to study his career.

The giant leap in Werdum´s striking didnt happen btw Pride & UFC,
but between his early fights in :
Jungle Fight
World Absolute Fight 2
Millennium Brawl

...and Pride.

Key fights:

MILLENNIUM BRAWL :
Werdum vs James Zikic

JUNGLE FIGHT:
Werdum vs Ebenezer Braga
Werdum vs Napão

PRIDE:
Werdum vs Einemo

STRIKEFORCE / UFC:
Werdum´s recent fights..

Einemo was actually an ex-sparring partner [who even bragged that he subbed him many times during sparring...], so none of them was expecting to get the better on the ground (Einemo was a European BJJ standout).

How did Werdum win this fight? With his clinch game, with his knees, that´s where he did most of the damage, and what got him the decision.

But he didnt have this clinch game in his early fights, in Jungle Fight for instance.

There, in this type of situation, he would lower his upper body, put his hand in front of the opponent´s knee, and stay full defensive [see Gonzaga or Braga fights].

That´s why I said that technically, the giant leap was not between Pride & UFC, but between Jungle Fight & Pride.

Technically, that´s when he accepted Crocop´s invitation to train with him, he taught the ground game to him, and for sure learnt a lot about striking.

Note that Werdum´s boxing has always been limited...
Ebenezer Braga (LHW), Big Nog 1... were all schooling him with their boxing... Ebenezer got caught by an overhand right coz he got over-confident seeing his domination.

IIRC, Bas was pointing at the fact that Werdum kept closing his eyes while throwing punches, but this, I cant neither confirm or deny since the VHS quality of Doom´s early fights was poor (poor angles too, few replays), and for sure Bas had access to better cameras & was at ringside..

Another thing to point at: Werdum´s kicks...

People and commentators always express their incredulity when they see Werdum starting his fights in the UFC with a flying kick... Like he added something to his arsenal...

The truth is... He was already doing these flying kicks in... Pride [see vs Overeem 1]... and in Jungle Fight! [see vs Gonzaga]... at a pre-Pride time where people claims he was a one-dimensional fighter!

Much more:IIRC, against Ebenezer Braga, he attempted 3 roundhouse kicks, 3 pretty quick ones for a HW, didnt catch Braga of course, a quick LHW...
He attempted the same kick against James Zikic too (a fight where he showed good leg kicks too...)

So it is what it is. People tend to believe that he suddenly added all this arsenal only in the UFC thanx to Cordeiro...

Cordeiro straightened his striking game up, especially his clinch game, but Werdum already had developped this side of his game in Pride.

https://www.mma-core.com/videos/Fab...r_Fontes_Braga_JF_02_Jungle_Fight_02/10020200

 

[PancraseForever]

All I remember is Werdum's "front crawl" style punches. Showcased especially against Overeem (who he probably could have beat due to his zero chin and the way he was easily overwhelmed at the time).

I watched Werdum vs. Einemo in the past. I liked Einemo.

 

[gono btw]

All I remember is Werdum's "front crawl" style punches. Showcased especially against Overeem (who he probably could have beat due to his zero chin and the way he was easily overwhelmed at the time).

I watched Werdum vs. Einemo in the past. I liked Einemo.

Strange career, Einemo...Technically retired in 2007, then came back in 2011...Lost some good years...

 

[Wicked_1]

Training with mirko was great for both guys. It helped them learn what they were lacking in. Both benifitted from the other. The ufc came so late for Werdum he really didn't improve very much after going to the ufc. He has good standup, awesome bjj, and suspect gameplans. He relies on his striking too much. He like a lot of grapplers, learned something new in striking, got confident, forgot what made them great. If vs stipe, he had used his striking to set up a takedown, instead of running forward at a counter striker, he would have been able to easliy sub him. I agree 100% that his biggest leaps in striking were all prior to joining the ufc, and not after.

 

[Ancient Warrior]

I always thought he had excellent striking, but poor decision making.

He either underestimated his abilities (vs Reem), or overestimated them (ala Stipe).