Outside Source
The UFC has addressed Fabricio Werdum’s homophobic outburst during a media lunch Thursday.
In a statement Friday, the UFC wrote that it is “disappointed” by Werdum’s comments and Werdum has agreed to do outreach in the LGBTQ community. The full statement is as follows:
The UFC organization is disappointed with recent comments made by Fabricio Werdum at a promotional event in Los Angeles. The nature and implication of his comments do not reflect UFC’s views and will not be tolerated, no matter the manner in which they are used.
We acknowledge and appreciate that Fabricio has since apologized to the organization and to anyone he may have offended with his words. As high profile athletes, role models, and global ambassadors of the sport of Mixed Martial Arts, athletes under contract with UFC are required to abide by the Athlete Conduct Policy. Given his breach of this policy, Fabricio has agreed to perform community outreach within the LGBTQ community in Las Vegas, taking steps to enact change and make a direct impact within the community.
Werdum, a former UFC heavyweight champion, got into argument with fellow UFC fighter Tony Ferguson during a UFC 216 media lunch Thursday in Los Angeles. During the course of the altercation, Werdum dropped multiple homophobic slurs in Spanish.
“Shut your mouth, you f*cking f****t,” Werdum said in Spanish. “Don’t talk to me like that, that’s not how it works. You can talk like that to your division but with me you can’t talk like that f****t.”
Earlier Friday, Werdum issued a statement of his own on Twitter, writing that he was “apologetic” if he offended anyone.
Maricon is common word in the Spanish culture and I do not mean to offend anyone in the LBG community and if I did I’m apologetic #heeyy
— Fabricio Werdum (@FabricioWerdum) September 29, 2017
Werdum also has business ties to Chechen dictator Ramzan Kadyrov, who has been panned by the United Nations for alleged atrocities committed against gay men. In a recent interview with HBO’s Real Sports, Kadyrov said he would condone violence against gays by their relatives.
“We don’t have such people here,” Kadyrov said of LGBTQ people. “We don’t have any gays. If there are any, take them to Canada. Praise be to God. To purify our blood, if there are any here, take them.
“If we have such people here, then I’m telling you officially, their relatives won’t let them be, because of our faith, our mentality, customs and traditions. Even if it’s punishable under the law, we would still condone it.”
Werdum said during the media lunch that he keeps his work with Kadyrov and Kadyrov’s Akhmat Fight Club MMA promotion separate from politics. He added that he does not condone violence against any people.
At UFC 216 on Oct. 7 in Las Vegas, Werdum will meet Derrick Lewis.
This article first appeared at MMA Fighting – All Posts
