The Global Fight League has faced another setback as former UFC champion Fabricio Werdum announced his withdrawal from their upcoming events.
GFL is set to launch its initial events at the Shrine in Los Angeles on May 24 and 25. However, the promotion has already experienced issues with announced matchups.
Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua previously withdrew from his fight with Yoel Romero, leading to Gegard Mousasi stepping in to face Romero.
Now, Fabricio Werdum has also announced his withdrawal after his scheduled opponent, Frank Mir, required emergency surgery.
One of the highly anticipated GFL matchups was to be between former heavyweight champions Fabricio Werdum and Frank Mir, two renowned submission specialists. However, with a combined age of 92, both fighters are past their prime.
Frank Mir`s health situation led to his removal from the event, which has now affected Werdum`s participation.
Fabricio Werdum Withdraws from GFL Due to Lack of Motivation After Losing Frank Mir Fight
Fabricio Werdum, 47, who left UFC in 2020 and has since competed in PFL and Gamebred Bareknuckle MMA, stated on the Mundo da Luta podcast that he is withdrawing from GFL because he will not be fighting Frank Mir.
Werdum indicated that the Frank Mir fight was his primary motivation for returning to competition. With Mir out, he no longer feels the drive to compete.
“Frank Mir was a fight that motivated me to return. After he announced his withdrawal, I also lost my motivation. The atmosphere in Andre Dida’s academy in Curitiba is unbelievable. It was such a great experience to return do training routine… but I have to feel the same motivation to return and that was not the case when Mir withdrew,” Werdum explained.
Fabricio Werdum’s Exit Suggests Potential Challenges for GFL
GFL has faced criticism despite signing notable fighters for seemingly interesting matchups.
Fabricio Werdum`s withdrawal highlights a potential problem: maintaining fighter engagement when specific, highly anticipated fights fall through or conclude.
For both fighters and fans, it`s crucial for GFL to consistently create compelling matchups to sustain interest in their events.
GFL 1 and 2 in Los Angeles feature some promising fights, and while these initial events are significant, the long-term sustainability of the promotion remains to be seen.
