Werdum the wager in Brazil

Jack Woodfield is backing Fabricio Werdum to gain revenge on Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira this weekend at UFC on Fuel TV 10.

Our Jack Woodfield is backing Fabricio Werdum to gain revenge on Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira this weekend at UFC on Fuel TV 10. A heavyweight rematch with title implications takes place on June 8 when Fabricio Werdum collides with Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in Fortaleza, Brazil. The two Brazilians were coaches on the second installment of The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil and will square off as the series draws to a close this weekend. Perennial contenders in the division, victory could feasibly propel either into UFC heavyweight championship contention and Sky Bet's 1/3 favourite Werdum has to be backed for retribution against his foe. The first meeting between the mixed martial artists took place seven years ago, with Nogueira taking home a unanimous decision, but Werdum is riding a wave of momentum that includes recent triumphs over Roy Nelson and Fedor Emelianenko. With one defeat in six - a unanimous decision loss to Alastair Overeem - Werdum has seen his stock skyrocket since his return to the UFC. He is 2-0 in his second spell with the Zuffa organisation and offers a diverse threat to the heavyweight division, with KO and submission victories to boast in his last four fights. Nogueira, 9/4 to triumph, has won three and last three of his last six, marking the veteran's worst spell of form throughout his distinguished career. Two of those losses were both at the hands of Frank Mir, but the signs are emerging that Nogueira's future amongst the heavyweight elite may be drawing to a close. A "Submission of the Night" victory over Dave Herman sees Nogueira enter the Werdum fight with a modicum of momentum, but the 37-year-old's recent results aren't enough to inspire confidence in the former Interim UFC heavyweight champion. Both men have something to prove when they enter the Octagon, but Werdum is the man worthy of backing to secure a massive win and further disrupt the heavyweight title scene.

Return

Another thoroughly intriguing bout on the main card pits Thiago Silva against Rafael Cavalcante. Silva is returning from a six-month suspension after failing a post-fight drug test in November, while Cavalcante is also back after a year out for the same offence. Their suspensions aside, both men have impressive resumes, with Silva's three defeats coming at the hands of high-profile names, while Cavalcante makes his UFC debut with just three losses to his name, one of which a result of a disqualification. Something has to give on June 8, and Silva at 6/4 seems an interesting outside bet to make a successful return against his Brazilian compatriot. It's hard to argue with Cavalcante's knockout power, which has seen all 11 of his previous victories come by way of KO, but Silva is not a man to be easily floored. In fact, Silva has only been knocked out once in his eight-year career - courtesy of Lyoto Machida - and his well-rounded game makes him a threat for many in the light-heavyweight top 10. Cavalcante may be odds-on at 8/15, but Silva offers the better value and represents the best chance of an upset on the main card.

Point to prove

Elsewhere, American Jason High takes on Erick Silva in a battle where the odds are perhaps a tad misleading. Admittedly, Silva's reputation had recently been building into that of a genuine welterweight contender, but that was until he ran into Jon Fitch. Fitch represented the first real test of Silva's blossoming career and having been bossed for three rounds, it will be fascinating to see how the 28-year-old Brazilian bounces back. High, however, is a man in superior form, winning seven fights on the trot and while priced at the rather generous 9/4, he will not make life as easy for Silva as some may think. Having been banished from the UFC after a solitary fight, a unanimous decision loss to Charlie Brenneman, High will be out to impress following a three-year exile from the organisation. High's motivation to produce the performance of his life will be unquestionable, but Silva, odds-on at 30/100, will be his toughest test to date and the submission specialist is worth backing to return to winning ways. The Brazilian will have learned greatly from that loss to Fitch, his first taste of top 10 competition, and while he will by no means steamroll through High, expect him to start climbing back up the welterweight ladder with a win.
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