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Underdog tag suits Werdum

Fabricio Werdum beat Fedor Emelianenko last year © Getty Images

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Brazilian heavyweight Fabricio Werdum is happy to play the role of underdog as he prepares to take on Alistair Overeem in Dallas.

Werdum claimed the scalp of Fedor Emelianenko last year, and will look to pull off another upset in the quarter-finals of Strikeforce's Heavyweight Grand Prix on Saturday.

"I like that people say Overeem is the favourite," Werdum told HeavyMMA.com. "I like that a lot. I like going into the cage as the underdog because I've been training very hard, non-stop for everything that he can bring to the table.

"I also don't pay any attention to what Overeem is doing for training because my only focus is on what I want to do and how I train. I'm in great shape. I'm 100% and my mind is sharp."

And despite being considered as a submission expert, Werdum has hinted he may spring a surprise or two on Saturday.

"I'm very confident and people are saying that Overeem is very strong," he said. "He has good Muay Thai, but I have good Muay Thai too. I have great jiu-jitsu and while striking is his biggest weapon I have a lot of weapons as well.

"Everybody knows my specialty is on the ground. In my last fight I showed a big surprise to everybody so I want to say it now: coming up in Dallas, I plan to show everybody another big surprise. People may not believe me but when June 18 comes around I have another big surprise to show the world."

Werdum, who already boasts a win over Overeem - a submission victory at back in 2006, and he has warned the Dutchman another victory will give him ultimate bragging rights.

"In Brazil we make jokes and in a recent interview, Overeem didn't understand a joke I made because I said he was my son," Werdum said. "I'll explain it right now. If we were playing Xbox and I beat you three times then you are my son. So since I've beat him and when I do it again he is my son. After the fight I will grab the microphone and say, 'Who's your daddy?'."

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