Nearing the tip of his profession, former middleweight champion Chris Weidman faces Bruno Silva on this weekend’s UFC struggle card in Atlantic Metropolis.
Weidman received the 185-pound title be dethroning UFC Corridor of Famer Anderson Silva at UFC 162 in July 2013. He efficiently defended the title 3 times earlier than dropping to Luke Rockhold in December 2015. Since dropping the belt, Weidman has struggled.
These struggles had been precipitated when he suffered a damaged leg in his UFC 261 bout in opposition to Uriah Corridor in April 2021. Satirically, Weidman suffered the identical harm that Silva did of their rematch at UFC 168.
Heading into the struggle with Corridor, Weidman had misplaced 5 of his seven earlier bouts. His restoration was marred with setbacks and he would not return to the octagon for over two years. In his return bout at UFC 292 in August 2023, Weidman was defeated by Brad Tavares.
Having misplaced seven of his final 9 fights and unable to place collectively back-to-back wins within the final 9 years, Weidman’s struggle with Bruno Silva could possibly be the final for the 39-year previous.
“I am undefeated in Atlantic Metropolis. That is the place I began my profession. After I obtained the decision, to be trustworthy, I used to be like, oh man, that might be a very cool place to hold up the gloves,” Weidman stated throughout an look on The MMA Hour.
“As I began coaching, I used to be like, let me see how my physique feels. If I really feel like I am performed I will be performed, , 30 surgical procedures in and stuff. However I have been feeling wonderful,” Weidman continued. “I’m very cognizant that Atlantic Metropolis can be a cool place to hold up the gloves however I do not see that taking place, simply to talk to the elephant within the room. I really feel nice proper now and I am prepared for Atlantic Metropolis.”
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Weidman not solely feels nice, he is in an excellent place mentally. His coaches imagine that he might nonetheless be among the best middleweights on this planet.
“I feel as a result of bodily I really feel so good, mentally I really feel actually good. I am excited to go on the market. I really feel nice in coaching,” Weidman stated. “Hear, I do know what it appears like and I get it, however the coaches suppose if I needed to, if I’ve the vitality to do it, I could possibly be the perfect on this planet once more. And I do really feel that approach. Now, I’ve obtained to go put within the work. I’ve obtained to really present that within the UFC, so we’ll see on Saturday evening how I look however the way in which I really feel is wonderful.”
Silva will enter the octagon at Boardwalk Corridor this Saturday coming off back-to-back losses. He is 1-4 in his final 5 fights.
