Chris Weidman got back on the winning track this past August by defeating Omari Akhmedov via unanimous decision, snapping his two-fight skid. Still, it was only “All American’s” second win in his previous seven fights.
That’s why the former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight champion of the world isn’t so confident he won’t be cut should he lose in his upcoming bout against Uriah Hall, scheduled to go down at UFC 258 on Feb. 13, 2021.
“I’m not really worried about it, but I wouldn’t be surprised,” Weidman said in an interview with James Lynch (via MMA Junkie). There’s nothing that surprises me. I don’t think I’m more special than anybody to where they’re just gonna go like, ‘Oh, Chris Weidman’s a guy we’re just going to keep forever no matter what.’ If I don’t prove I am a world class fighter and prove that I’m still title challenger ready, then yeah, I can 100 percent see that.”
The promotion has cut several longtime veterans over the last few months as part of its attempt tp make room on its bloated roster. But the way Weidman sees is, the promotion is simply trying to groom the new blood coming in. And it has more to do with money that with trying to find the new face of UFC.
“It’s unprecedented that they’re letting guys go with fights on their contract,” Weidman said. “It really does put everybody in a position if you’re in the UFC like, ‘Oh crap.’ If you’re not winning right now, especially if you’re getting paid a lot of money, it looks like they’re trying to get rid of you and bring these younger guys up who they’re not paying as much money. It seems like they’re kind of focused on that.”
Weidman has been under contract with the promotion for nearly a decade now, but he hasn’t shown the flashes of brilliance that brought him to the top of the Middleweight mountain for some time now.
A win over Hall — who he defeated once before 10 years ago under the Ring of Combat banner — assures “All American” he’ll remain with the promotion a little while longer.