Fabricio Werdum will not be competing in the 2025 GFL season.
GFL announced that the former UFC heavyweight champion is out of the event “due to injury.” However, Werdum clarified on the Mundo da Luta podcast that his withdrawal was due to a lack of motivation after Frank Mir, his expected opponent, was forced to withdraw due to injury.
“Vai Cavalo” was scheduled to face Mir in the first half of 2025. However, after Mir’s injury and subsequent withdrawal, Werdum decided to pull out of the GFL event entirely.
“I won’t fight for GFL anymore,” Werdum stated. “I hope it’s a cool event, and I wish them success so it gives other fighters an opportunity, especially legends, to compete again. I want it to work out. I think it’s normal for these kinds of situations to happen, some uncertainty in the beginning until the promotion gets established, but I’ve decided not to fight.”
“I’ve returned home and am currently in Florianópolis. I’ve completely changed my plans and am returning to my life without focusing on fighting. I am 47 years old now.”
Werdum`s last fight was in September 2023 in a bare-knuckle MMA match against Junior dos Santos, which he lost by decision. Prior to that, the UFC veteran suffered a TKO loss to Renan Ferreira in his only PFL appearance in May 2021, a result later overturned to a no-contest.
