Werdum came under fire for the first time earlier last month when he was commenting on some Cormier reactions to Jones doping scandal.

Werdum Slams Cormier, Hurls Gay Slur At Him

However his last outburst toward Tony Ferguson may have hurt Werdum’s image in mainstream media significantly.

Tony Ferguson & Fabricio Werdum got into a heated argument at the #UFC216 Media Lunch 😳. Stay tuned for story on https://t.co/uu3K3IQYju pic.twitter.com/kNK1nEwVC0

— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) September 28, 2017

 “It was a weird situation,” Werdum told MMAjunkie. “Because I’d never had a problem with anyone like that. The guy was disrespectful. He told me to shut up. He told me to shut up, because he was talking. So I was like, ‘Not like that.’ So I called him a bunch of names.

“I don’t have anything against homosexual people, nothing against gay people. I think everyone is the same, and everyone has the same rights, regardless of their sexual orientation. One thing has nothing to do with the other.

“I just called him all the names that I could at that time. It was a moment of anger, of rage, or whatever you want to call it. I was very pissed with his lack of respect. I felt I had to put him in his place, because he was full of himself. He was thinking he was all that. He wants to be (UFC lightweight champion) Conor McGregor – I don’t know. The guys are tripping, trying to play this thing, with hats and glasses. Even the reporters saw that he had a heavy energy.”

Werdum added:

“But now, I hate this guy. I don’t like this. This is (expletive). Just because I’m a heavyweight, I say nothing, and he’s a lightweight, and he can say whatever he wants? This is not good. He said something, and I said something, too.”

Additionally Werdum appologized to the LGBT community on twitter:

Maricon is common word in the Spanish culture and I do not mean to offend anyone in the LBG community and if I did I’m apologetic #heeyy

— Fabricio Werdum (@FabricioWerdum) September 29, 2017

Werdum clarfied once again:

“But I didn’t want to offend homosexual people, nothing like that. It’s an argument that happened, and that’s it. At no point was I (directing it at) the gay community. I’m not homophobic. And, like I said, everyone has the same rights, and we’re all equals.”

In a statement Friday, the UFC wrote that it is “disappointed” by Werdum’s comments and Werdum has agreed to do outreach in the LGBTQ community. UFC’s statement reads:

 The UFC organization is disappointed with recent comments made by Fabricio Werdum at a promotional event in Los Angeles. The nature and implication of his comments do not reflect UFC’s views and will not be tolerated, no matter the manner in which they are used.

We acknowledge and appreciate that Fabricio has since apologized to the organization and to anyone he may have offended with his words. As high profile athletes, role models, and global ambassadors of the sport of Mixed Martial Arts, athletes under contract with UFC are required to abide by the Athlete Conduct Policy. Given his breach of this policy, Fabricio has agreed to perform community outreach within the LGBTQ community in Las Vegas, taking steps to enact change and make a direct impact within the community.

Interestingly it’s been pointed out that Werdum has business with the Kadyrov family who is under a lot of scrutiny for their treatment of the homosexual people and alleged reorientation camps.