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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Wagnney Fabiano will head back to the featherweight division when he makes his UFC debut later this year.
The longtime veteran dropped to the bantamweight division last year after an upset loss to Mackens Semerzier in 2009, and won two straight fights in the weight class before being finished by Joseph Benavidez at WEC 52 in November. But the toll of the weight cut has been too much for Fabiano, and he says he's heading back up.
"That weight cut destroyed me," Fabiano said in comments made to Tatame.com. "It was a hell of a sacrifice, but I can't keep up losing that kind of weight... Not for fighting."
Fabiano said he is in no rush to make his UFC debut, and asked the organization for a few months off before re-entering the fold.
"I won't fight on the 135 lbs anymore, I'm going to the 145 lbs [division]... I can't do it anymore," he said. "I asked for some time off, I postponed it. I'll be cool for four or five months. I'll try to fight on the second semester, let's see what happens."
Penick's Analysis: Fabiano's had a mostly successful career thus far, and he remains a dangerous submission specialist, but with a fairly one dimensional game I don't see him making a run for a title in the UFC at all. But the move back to featherweight is probably in his best interest if the cut was causing him ill effects. He did win two fights at 135 lbs., but if it's a detriment to his training and performance, moving back is the right decision.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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