Chris Weidman suffered a crushing defeat at UFC 292 at the hands of Brad Tavares. The loss left many wondering whether we would see the former middleweight champion in the UFC octagon again. However, Weidman himself has confirmed that we have not seen the last of the New York native.
Weidman’s Latest Results
Weidman has achieved a lot throughout his career, including winning the middleweight championship and being the first person to defeat the legendary Anderson Silva. In the lead-up to the Tavares fight, it was public knowledge that Weidman was returning from a horrific leg injury. He showed promise in the second round of the contest but lost when it came to a decision. The damage sustained to his legs was a significant factor in the loss, which limited his ability to move officially within the Octagon. Due to the fight’s outcome, many people wondered if Weidman should hang up his gloves for good. UFC President Dana White expressed his desire for Weidman to end his legendary career when talking at the UFC 292 post-fight press conference.
“I love him, I love his family, and I think he should retire; the guy is returning from a gruesome injury, and father time is not our friend.”
Weidman Will Be Back Stronger
A lot of the time, legendary fighters such as Weidman prefer to avoid finishing their careers on a loss. The injury that Weidman sustained is a tough one to come back from. Furthermore, it is easy to see why Weidman wanted another fight, as it was his first time competing in two years, which means that ring rust could have played a factor in his performance. When you have a career like Weidman’s, you can understand why he doesn’t want to stop. Speaking on the UFC 292 post-fight show, Weidman confirms he is not done with the sport.
“I’m not done. I’ll be back better than ever, but this was an excellent opportunity to return to the Octagon.”
What’s Next?
When looking at who we could face when he returns, many options exist. The first name that comes to mind is Paul Craig because they are both known for their groundwork, and they are in similar stages in their career, where it could be their last title run. Andre Petroski could be an option as he is coming off a win against Gerald Meerschaert and is looking to get into the rankings like Weidman. The All-American will definitely be able to find the fight as he is a big name, and a win over him could propel a fighters’ career massively.
It is always special when a fighter like Weidman gets into the Octagon, as we don’t know how many fights he has left, and it is great to see him in action.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
