Fabricio Werdum (photo via UFC.com)

By FCF Staff

With the MMA world still buzzing about the news that Mark Hunt will challenge Fabricio Werdum for an interim heavyweight title at UFC 180, the latter’s coach, Rafael Cordeiro, has weighed in on the new match-up.

Werdum was scheduled to fight heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez at the November 15th event, but a knee injury has forced him to withdraw. As a result, Werdum will no longer face a decorated wrestler who has evolved into a MMA champ, but rather, a punishing striker who has bombed his way to the top of the UFC rankings.

While speaking to UFC.com, here is some of what Cordeiro had to say about how Werdum matches up against Hunt:

“I like to train my guys to fight against strikers,” Cordeiro said. “I can develop my fighters’ game. Once more, Fabricio will put his Muay Thai skills on display, the way he shocked Fedor, the way he shocked Travis Browne.

“He’s going to shock the world again.  Maybe it will be a Muay Thai fight; maybe it will be a jui-jitsu fight, you never know. (Werdum) is just a really good MMA fighter, and anything can happen.”

Cordeiro also noted that Werdum is aware of the fact that he outclasses Hunt on the ground, but added that the jiu-jitsu champion enjoys challenging himself, and could look to keep the fight standing.

UFC 180 will take place in Mexico City and will be available via pay-per-view.