One UFC heavyweight, according to the promotion’s veteran commentator, tends to get overlooked in discussions about the division’s all-time best.
The debate over who stands as the greatest heavyweight in mixed martial arts often centres around one standout from the UFC and another legend who never competed there.
Stipe Miocic’s two title reigns on MMA’s biggest stage put him in competition with the great Fedor Emelianenko in the minds of many fans.
But Joe Rogan feels that there is another name that belongs right alongside them.
Joe Rogan thinks Fabricio Werdum deserves more recognition as a UFC Heavyweight champion
To become UFC heavyweight champ for the first time, Miocic knocked out Fabricio Werdum at UFC 198 in Brazil.
Werdum is a four-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion and an ADCC Hall of Famer. He competed in major promotions like PRIDE, the UFC, and Strikeforce across a two-decade career that left a lasting impact.
In 2015, Werdum submitted Cain Velasquez to win the undisputed UFC heavyweight crown. Many saw Velasquez at the time as one of the most skilled fighters ever to compete in the division.
The Brazilian holds wins over several top names, including Emelianenko, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Alistair Overeem, and Gabriel Gonzaga. Rogan believes that many fans overlook just how strong his record is.
“I don’t think there’s a real GOAT in heavyweight,” Rogan said on his Joe Rogan Experience podcast. “I think there’s times where one guy would have beaten all the other guys.”
He continued: “You’ve gotta put Stipe in there because he defended the title more than everybody… Cain, Fedor — of course. Fedor is like the real connoisseur. I always say everybody forgets about Fabricio Werdum.”
“Werdum tapped Cain Velasquez, Minotauro Nogueira, and Fedor — and he tapped Fedor when he was Fedor. Werdum in his prime, he’s in that range.”
The former champion hasn’t fought in MMA since 2021, but made a brief return under Jorge Masvidal’s Gamebred FC banner three years ago.
Werdum lost to Junior dos Santos via split decision in their bare-knuckle MMA contest. He was then announced as part of the Global Fight League roster at the end of 2024 before plans for that promotional launch fell apart.
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