Sherdog’s Submission of the Year
A definitive win compressed into a mere 69 seconds, Fabricio Werdum’s triangle of Fedor Emelianenko on June 26 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., was a reminder that every fighter is beatable when caught up, long enough, in the other guy’s world.
With Emelianenko carrying into the bout the gold standard of career consistency and the mantle of the world’s best heavyweight, Werdum’s finisher resonated across the mixed martial arts world, making it Sherdog’s “Submission of the Year” for 2010.
Werdum’s triangle did more than just snap Emelianenko’s 10-year unbeaten streak. The submission made the most intimidating and overwhelming fighter in the history of the game look thoroughly human.
“I’ve been training that position since I was a white belt,” said Werdum. “It’s a position I’m very comfortable with.”
Werdum added that switching back and forth from the triangle to the arm bar, while a basic technique taught in early jiu-jitsu training, is not something that is acquired overnight.
As a former Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion and two-time Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling World Championships winner in the heavyweight bracket, Werdum’s grappling credentials are top-notch. And going into the bout, his preparation and revamped diet had him weighing a trim 238 pounds, with his confidence soaring.
“The mental and physical preparation came together perfectly,” said Richard Wilmer, Werdum’s manager. “Fabricio was already convinced he won the fight as camp started.”
It could not have played out any better for Werdum.
“I put Fedor in trouble with my best weapon -- my triangle. I took away his balance,” he said. “And when he went in my guard, I knew I was going to win the fight.”
See entire article: http://www.sherdog.com/news/articles...the-Year-29214
