All of the UFC fights are basically just a countdown to Daniel Cormier’s epic encounter against UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic. The same title shot that Fabricio Werdum has been clawing back to. You have to have a college degree in MMA match to figure out this one, it’s more than just any light heavyweight moving up to fight a bigger opponent. The former champ himself knows full well what it’s like to be in the cage with Miocic, who took the title away from him back at UFC 198. Despite having nothing but respect for Cormier and his skills, he thinks Stipe Miocic will walk away with the strap still on his waist.

“I want to see this fight [between Daniel Cormier and Stipe Miocic], too. Of course I want to go first, but for the business UFC, for fans this is much better. I understand this part, too. For sure I was sad before, but after talking to Dana White, I understand for the company, business is much better. I hope I’m the next one after my fight.”

#UFCLondres
📅 17 de março
🇧🇷 @FabricioWerdum x @AlexDragoVolkov​ 🇷🇺
Saiba mais ➡ https://t.co/LYY1nxX1hS pic.twitter.com/3okcwNiWXy

— UFC Brasil (@ufc_brasil) February 1, 2018

“I love Cormier, he’s my good friend for a long time. One day, he is just a wrestling guy. I talk about the time I take him down three times, training with him, and he say that all the time, too. He was just a wrestling guy, but now he is more complete. He’s a good boxer, wrestling and jiu-jitsu. But, I think Stipe Miocic beat him by points.”— Fabricio Werdum speaking on The MMA Hour.

It’s not a superfight, but Fabricio Werdum’s next scrap is against rising contender Alexander Volkov. He’s on a five-fight win streak and coming off a TKO victory over Stefan Struve. Werdum has been quick to get back to action after his decision loss to Alistair Overeem back in the Summer of last year. He’s stacked two wins together and will work on taking out Volkov as the third in his path to a title. Depending on how Miocic’s fight at UFC 225 goes, Werdum could potentially get his shot by the end of this year.

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 2/8/2018.