Fabricio Werdum Thinks Travis Browne Is The Easier Fight For Cain Velasquez

UFC heavyweight standouts Travis Browne and Fabricio Werdum will collide at UFC on Fox 11on April 19, with the winner getting the next shot at the champion Cain Velasquez. In a classic pairing of grappler vs striker, ‘Hapa’ and ‘Vai Cavalo’ will duke it out in the evening’s main event.

Speaking with Fox Sports, ace grappler Werdum outlines the bout against Browne in Florida, check out what he had to say:

“Everybody knows that he doesn’t have it on the ground,” Werdum said of Browne. “He goes on the ground, he tries to stand up. He doesn’t have confidence. [Velasquez] knows when he takes down me, it’s just starting the fight on the ground,” Werdum said. “[Fighting Browne] is much better for him for sure.”

Werdum’s skills on the mat are unparalleled in MMA; he submitted the legendary Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira last June, and holds the only submission win ever over ‘The Last Emperor’-Fedor Emelianenko. Rather contrastingly, Browne is a knockout machine.

Currently riding a three fight streak, ‘Hapa’ has put to bed Gabriel Gonzaga, Alistair Overeem and Josh Barnett-all within the very first round by strikes. To say that Browne would be an easier fight for Velasquez is probably a little harsh, perhaps an easier fight on the mat though.

“I’m confident in my standup, too,” Werdum said. “”I’m not just a jiu-jitsu guy. I’m a complete fighter now. I have the best coach in the world in Rafael Cordeiro. He showed me a lot of tricks. I want that, I want the feeling and then I’ll find out. I want the belt. That’s it.”

Werdum’s title aspirations may well be realized should he get past Browne, but it pays to remember that the task of beating Cain Velasquez is a huge one. The dominant champion seems to be leagues ahead of the rest of the division right now, and Werdum will have his work cut out with the wrestling machine that is CV.