Fabricio Werdum wanted justice for his controversial PFL debut, and now he’s got it.
The New Jersey State Athletic Control Board has overturned Werdum’s (24-9-1) knockout loss to Renan Ferreira at 2021 PFL 3 this past Thursday to a no contest after reviewing the tape and concluding that the referee missed what should’ve been a fight-ending tap out by Ferreira (6-2).
ESPN first reported the change in result on Monday, and Werdum’s manager, Ali Abdelaziz of Dominance MMA, subsequently expressed his pleasure with a successful appeal in a statement on Twitter.
I want to thank the New Jersey Athletic Commission, Mr. Nick Lembo who worked all weekend on over turning Fabricio Werdum’s decision to a NO Contest from his last week at PFL. I also want to thank PFL for quickly providing all of the necessary evidence.
— Ali Abdelaziz (@AliAbdelaziz00) May 10, 2021
I want to thank the New Jersey Athletic Commission, Mr. Nick Lembo who worked all weekend on over turning Fabricio Werdum’s decision to a NO Contest from his last week at PFL. I also want to thank PFL for quickly providing all of the necessary evidence.
Werdum, a former UFC heavyweight champion, headlined 2021 PFL 3 at Ocean Casino Resort in Atlanta City, N.J., as part of the regular season kickoff event for the heavyweight division. He quickly took Ferreira down in the opening round of their matchup, then put his world-class ground game to use.
After transitioning into a triangle choke/armbar combination on bottom, Ferreira appeared to tap out. Referee Keith Peterson missed it, though, according to Werdum’s retelling of his experience, he released part of the pressure in expectation the fight would be stopped.
It wasn’t, however, and moments later Ferreira escaped the choke, postured up and reigned down massive hammerfists on Werdum to put his lights out and end the fight in a knockout.
Werdum immediately protested the result, and vowed he felt a tap. Instant replay did reveal a tapping motion by Ferreira, but an argument can be made it’s not definitive. The commission apparently felt it was, though, and opted to change the result.
PFL has yet to comment on how the result change will impact its season standing. Ferreira was awarded six points for the first-round finish, but that has now been wiped from his record.
