Wagnney Fabiano Eyes Eighth Straight Win

By Frank Curreri

After nine years in the fight game, Wagnney Fabiano still has not lost. Well, he’s unbeaten in his own mind at least. You see, Fabiano’s official record is 11-1 and indicates that he lost a split decision to Jeff Curran in 2006. But many who saw the main event felt the wrong man had his hand raised that night in Quebec. Fabiano is one of the objectors.

“The ‘L’ that I have on my record doesn't affect or disappoint me at all because both of us know I really won the fight,” Fabiano said.

That is as mean-spirited as the verbal swipes come from the polite, composed and reserved Brazilian. It is difficult to get an emotional rise out of the highly-ranked featherweight, who is training for an April 5 showdown against Brazilian jiu-jitsu legend Fredson Paixao, who would have preferred to fight Jose Aldo and considers Fabiano to be an easier opponent.

“That’s fine, I like when people talk like that,” Fabiano said of Paixao’s perspective.

It’s a safe bet that Fabiano screened and withheld some of the other thoughts that crossed his mind regarding the slight. As he does with all of his opponents, Fabiano spoke of Paixao in glowing terms, twice calling him “a great fighter.” Paixao is 8-2; four of those wins have come by submission and one was a TKO. He seems a bit one-dimensional and flat-footed, but the fact that Paixao hasn’t fought in two years has Fabiano giving him the benefit of the doubt.

“Not knowing what kind of fighter he has become since his last fight two years ago is clearly a disadvantage, as I don't know what kind of fighter he is now,” Fabiano said. “Hopefully his two years of inactivity will give me an advantage.”

For those who appreciate ground fighting and the intricacies of jiu-jitsu, this undercard matchup could be one of the night’s most compelling. Paixao owns four world titles in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, while Fabiano owns a black belt and numerous titles, including a bronze medal at Mundials. The two have never competed against each other in grappling tournaments. While complimentary of Paixao’s jiu-jitsu, explosiveness and conditioning, Fabiano said that he is not afraid to battle Paixao on the ground.

“I wouldn’t hesitate to go to the ground with him at all,” Fabiano said.

Interestingly, however, Fabiano does not necessarily believe he will enjoy a big advantage if the fight stays standing – though his hands have appeared superior to Paixao’s.

“I am not going to say I have an advantage standing because he has been in the United States for three years and his last fight was two years ago so, in that time, he can improve his standup game a lot,” Fabiano said. “As for wrestling, I figure it is the same thing; I don't know how much he's learned in the last two years.”

Fabiano, meanwhile, last fought in early December, scoring a third-round submission victory over Japan’s Akitoshi Tamura in each fighter’s WEC debut. The triumph marked Fabiano’s seventh straight win since the controversial setback to Curran. The former International Fight League featherweight champion has not allowed any of the bouts during his win streak to go to the judges; he has finished every opponent in the past two years (six submissions, one KO). If he should add Paixao to his list of victims, Fabiano is not sure where he will stand in the WEC featherweight division. Asked if he would be deserving of a title shot, Fabiano replied, “ I really don't want to think past my fight with Fredson. That's all I'm thinking about now.”

While Fabiano offered no clues as to who his next opponent should be, the 33-year-old is adamant that he will never fight Jose Aldo, a training partner back in Rio De Janeiro who also happens to be a top featherweight in the WEC.

“Jose Aldo and I train together three or four times a week,” said Fabiano, who like Aldo is trained by Andre Pederneiras. “Jose Aldo's good because he's so fast and well rounded. I would not be willing to fight him outside training because we are friends. That's not going to happen.”

But Fabiano is ready for all other comers, starting with Paixao.

“To win this fight I just have to be better than him on that night,” Fabiano said. “I'm training even more than ever because I want to be world champion and I know everyone else is training hard to be one, too.”