Renzo Gracie believes things will be different a second time, but the UFC middleweight belt won’t change hands.
Gracie, one of Chris Weidman’s coaches in New York City, said during Monday’s The MMA Hour that his protégé will finish Anderson Silva again at UFC 168 in Las Vegas, NV, but this time using his jiu-jitsu skills on Dec. 28.
“He will submit him,” Gracie told Ariel Helwani. “I do believe he’s going to submit him, yes. He’s getting better every day. If Anderson doesn’t improve his ground game, he will be in trouble this time.”
Weidman took Silva down when they first fought in the UFC and tried a leglock, but the Brazilian was able to defend. He failed to score another takedown, but shocked the world by knocking out the middleweight champion in the second round.
Gracie praises the Brazilian for his record inside the Octagon, but believes Weidman has his number.
“I like Anderson a lot, he’s an unbelievable champion,” he said. “It’s going to be a tough fight, but Weidman is the one for that task. If Anderson is not that careful, (Weidman) is going to take Anderson down and submit him.”