Fabricio Werdum out of PFL 6 fight with Brandon Sayles

Former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum won’t be fighting later this month.

Professional Fighters League announced on Tuesday that “Vai Cavalo” was scheduled to make his second appearance under the promotion’s banner in a June 25 bout with Brandon Sayles, but MMA Fighting has learned that Werdum has withdrawn from the card.

Multiple people with knowledge of the change said Werdum won’t be able to compete after suffering a TKO defeat to Renan Ferreira seven weeks ago. It’s unclear if the 43-year-old Brazilian will still be part of the 2021 PFL season, according to one person, and who will step inside the cage to face Sayles later this month.

Werdum, who parted ways with the UFC after a first-round submission victory over Alexander Gustafsson in Abu Dhabi, was stopped with punches moments after Ferreira tapped to a triangle choke, a move the referee didn’t notice in real time. The New Jersey Athletic Control Board reviewed the fight and overturned the result to a no-decision.