By Guilherme Cruz

Photo Esther Lin

Thousands of fans and fighters were glad to watch Fabrício Wedum’s win over Fedor Emelianenko, but the reason for their happiness is different than what the fighter Mike Kyle revealed. On his debut on Strikeforce, on 2009, the American replaced Renato Babalu, surprised everyone and knocked Rafael Feijão out. Two months later, Mike decided to change to a heavier division and to confront Fabrício Werdum. But Mike ended up submitted with a guillotine in only 84 seconds.

Almost a year later, a period on which he got four wins in a row, the Marican fighter revealed he was glad to see Werdum submitting Fedor in 69 seconds. “It made me feel a lot better, I can say I lasted a little bit longer than Fedor. At least I really hit (Werdum). It didn’t really look like (Werdum) got rocked. I think he baited (Fedor) in and maybe just got clipped a little bit. It looks like he fell on his butt and said, ‘Come on, come on.’ I know that was his game plan. It really boosted my spirits because I didn’t just lose to anyone. He’s one of the best in the world”, said, on an interview to Strikeforce’s official website.