Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum stood by his decision of withdrawing from a title defense scheduled as the main event at UFC 196.
Werdum was set to take on top contender and former titleholder Cain Velasquez in a rematch. Unfortunately, Velasquez withdrew from the fight because of injuries and he was replaced by another challenger in Stipe Miocic.
But things took a sudden turn as Werdum also decided not to fight due to back and toe injuries.
Because of what happened, the UFC 197 event which will be held this March was re-numbered and is now UFC 196.
The fight card is headlined by the lightweight championship bout between reigning champion Rafael Dos Anjos and challenger, current UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor, as well as the face-off between UFC women's bantamweight champion Holly Holm and Miesha Tate.
As the original plans were altered, Werdum was heavily criticized for not continuing the fight, but the heavyweight kingpin defended his decision.
"I wanted to say that this is the best decision I've made in my life — to not fight Cain Velasquez, Stipe Miocic or anybody else," Werdum said, according to MMAJunkie.com.
Werdum continued, "This is not like Anderson (Silva), who was defeated, or Jon Jones, who had problems with the law and drugs, or Ronda (Rousey), who lost and everyone ganged up on her."
"I didn't even fight, and people regardless ran after me with critiques. So the reality is that everyone should do what's best for themselves," the 38-year-old fighter added.
The last time Werdum stepped inside the Octagon was back in June when he won the title at UFC 188 by submitting Velasquez with a guillotine choke in the third round.
Velasquez was given the chance to regain the belt and it should have been at UFC 196, but both he and Werdum were hindered by injuries.
There is no news when the rematch between Werdum and Velasquez will take place after the cancellation.
