The long-awaited third grappling clash between Junior Cigano and Fabrício Werdum, initially scheduled for August 8 in Florianópolis, has been cancelled. The news, released by Cigano on his social networks on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, frustrates the expectations of fans who followed the historic rivalry between the fighters, which would culminate in the Kings Championship event, promoted by master Rafael Cordeiro. The specific reason for the withdrawal was not detailed by the athlete.
In an explanatory video, the former UFC champion commented on the possibility of a new clash with Werdum, recognizing that the grappling format would be a challenge for him. Despite the difficulty, Junior Cigano expressed his willingness to participate in the duel in the second edition of the Kings Championship. However, according to his statement, “things ended up not going as we expected, we had some setbacks”, leading to the decision to cancel the meeting.
Cigano also clarified to his followers that, unfortunately, he will not be in Brazil in August, denying the expectations of fans who planned to meet him in Florianópolis for the event. “It won’t be this time. Maybe in the near future we will be able to make this confrontation happen, but it won’t be now. It can’t be now”, said the fighter, reiterating that the third challenge with Werdum in the Kings Championship will not take place on the scheduled date.
The rivalry between heavyweights began in 2008, when Junior Cigano beat Fabrício Werdum by knockout in a UFC fight. The second meeting took place in 2023, with Cigano again emerging victorious on points in a bare-knuckle MMA fight. This last confrontation, in particular, marked the end of the animosity between the two athletes, who have since developed a friendly relationship.
