Chris Weidman Is on the War Path: Ups the Ante on Anderson Silva and His Manager

In his own inimitable way, Chris Weidman has overtly slagged off and taunted both Anderson Silva and his co-manager Jorge Guimaraes. Succinctly put, “The All-American” has seriously upped the ante—for the 28-year-old native New Yorker…

In his own inimitable way, Chris Weidman has overtly slagged off and taunted both Anderson Silva and his co-manager Jorge Guimaraes. Succinctly put, “The All-American” has seriously upped the ante—for the 28-year-old native New Yorker, it’s all or nothing, no compromise.

In the rhetoric department, Weidman is no Chael Sonnen—there’s really no comparison, but the way he’s being calling out Silva at every PR-given moment, you’d think otherwise.

Initially, Weidman set the wheels in motion by insinuating he could finish Silva, before adding that he was most deserved of the No. 1 slot.

Guimaraes responded with a hit way below the belt—referring to Weidman, Tim Boetsch and Alan Belcher as “amateur kids” who were just out for fame and glory.

He further suggested that the only viable opponent for Silva from a financial standpoint was 170-pound champ Georges St-Pierre.

On hearing the slight, Weidman went verbally gung-ho. Via MMAWeekly.com:

I read them and it’s kind of crazy. The managers they have no right to start putting down professional athletes. He put me, and (Alan) Belcher and (Tim) Boetsch down and he’s trying to draw attention away from the fact that I’m the No. 1 contender, and then called us amateurs, and we’re all top-10 fighters.

This is what we do for a living and then you have some manager in Brazil who’s calling us amateur fighters and calls me a joke, it’s definitely a little crazy and I know I wouldn’t want my manager speaking about other fighters like that,” Weidman told MMAWeekly.com.

Weidman also believes there are outside forces at work determined to nix a potential showdown with MMA’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter.

That said, the two-time All-American broke down the list of so-called contenders and/or combatants that team Silva would rather have the Brazilian fight, while again staking his claim as the No. 1 contender.

It’s like they’re trying to avoid my name being mentioned at all for the title shot. They’re trying to deflect with other guys’ names so people can start thinking about them as possibilities, but even guys they’re choosing to call out, like GSP or (Nick) Diaz, they’re both welterweights.

I mean GSP, let’s start with him. The guy is coming off ACL surgery, we don’t even know for sure when he’s fighting, and when he does fight he’s fighting Carlos Condit for the welterweight title. You never know what’s going to happen, and best-case scenario he could fight again around May. So if anything, fight me next, if you beat me then you get your shot with GSP. You’re just calling out a 170-pounder coming off ACL surgery.

Then Nick Diaz, he’s another guy he’d have a size advantage over, he’s another good name, but the guy’s not going to be cleared till February. That’s just crazy. Nothing to say about me, who has proven to be the No. 1 contender. I beat two top-five guys in the division in a row, and no one’s come close to doing that, especially in the fashion I did in my last fight against Mark Munoz.

Weidman took another swipe at Silva regarding his realistic chances of locking horns with the aforesaid duo as well as Strikeforce 185-pound titlist Luke Rockhold, who was also brought into the title mix.

The guy’s a champion of 185, he should be fighting the contenders. You don’t call out guys that aren’t going to be able to fight forever and guys that are lighter than you.

Why don’t you call out Jon Jones? That makes sense, I’m sure a lot of people would watch, I’d love to watch too. If you’re not going to fight him, fight me, I’m ready to go.

With regards to his pay-per-view clout, an area team Silva sees as a stumbling block, Weidman is confident UFC President Dana White has enough promotional savvy to get the projected matchup off the ground.

“Dana White’s the best promoter in the world and I have full confidence that he’d be able to promote the fight just fine,” said Weidman. “I’m undefeated, every time I’ve had a full camp I’ve finished my opponent. You’ve got Anderson Silva, the No. 1 guy in the UFC right now, and just him alone is fine, and it just makes no sense what he’s saying. The manager’s not showing enough faith in the UFC and Dana White in the way they can promote the fight.”

Weidman freely admitted he has the utmost respect for his counterpart and firmly believes if it was up to Silva, the fight would go ahead. As has been somewhat customary with Silva, he has yet to say anything on the matter, instead leaving everything in the hands of his management team.

I have nothing but respect for Anderson Silva, and I would expect him to want to fight the best guy and the guy who’s going to give him the toughest challenge. If it was up to him, I think he would want to fight me because I am the toughest challenge. But his managers, I feel like they are trying to keep me away from it and try to make me irrelevant enough in the title picture with Anderson Silva,” Weidman said.

“When you talk to Ed Soares and the other guy, it’s as though I’m not in the picture at all.”

Weidman (9-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) may be convinced of his entitlement as top contender to Silva’s belt, but he’s under no illusions—anything can happen in MMA.

If for some reason he doesn’t get an instantaneous shot, he’s still intent on moving full steam ahead against whomever the UFC puts in his path.

Nevertheless, he still reiterated his current credentials as proof of his No. 1 status.

If the UFC tells me tomorrow that I’m fighting someone else, I have no problem. I fight for the UFC, whatever they tell me to do, I’m going to do. My goal is to be the champion and I feel like I’m in a position where I have the chance to become the champion, it’s me trying to chase my goal.

If the UFC tells me 20 minutes from now that the Anderson Silva fight isn’t going to happen, and I need to fight someone else, I might be upset for a couple of minutes, but I’ll move on. I just feel like I’m the No. 1 contender right now and I feel like the champion should fight the No. 1 contender.

I feel like I’ve made it blatantly obvious with this last fight that I’m ahead of the pack. The champ should want to fight that guy.

If Weidman wanted that publicity, well, he’s got it. If he wants the next shot at Silva’s crown, well, he’s heading in the right direction.

The word on the MMA circuit is he’s not marketable enough, but that may soon change. Also, there’s the small matter of Mark Munoz—some believe he defeated an overrated and underachieving fighter in “The Filipino Wrecking Machine.”

Thus far, only one other fighter has ever been a thorn in the Brazilian’s side, and look what happened to him.

Weidman believes he’s earned his stripes, and as such, he’s determined to get first refusal on Silva.

Furthermore, he seems to have immense self-belief in himself and is utterly convinced he will end the 15-fight winning streak of “The Spider” and in the process capture UFC gold.

 

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Michael Bisping Calls Chris Weidman a ‘Wiesel’

Michael “The Count” Bisping is none too pleased with Chris Weidman’s recent remarks regarding his mental fortitude, and, as consequence, “The Count” hit back, referring to “The All-American” as “the Wiesel.” “C…

Michael “The Count” Bisping is none too pleased with Chris Weidman’s recent remarks regarding his mental fortitude, and, as consequence, “The Count” hit back, referring to “The All-American” as “the Wiesel.”

“Chris the Wiesel Weidman saying I fold under pressure. Hahahahaha I needed a good laugh this morning,” (via Fiveouncesofpain.com).

Was he comparing him to Romanian Holocaust survivor and writer Elie Wiesel, or was he equating Weidman with a certain type of meat-eating mammal commonly known as a weasel.

If the latter is the case, and as the phrase weasel is a double-entendre, Bisping could easily have been lumping him in the category of the treacherous and deceitful.

Bisping’s retort was a result of Weidman’s recent interview with John Joe O’Regan of Fightersonlymag.com.

Weidman was asked whether he thought Bisping was overrated or underrated.

Here’ an excerpt from that interview:

I know he is good and talented and he has faced some good guys but every time he has faced a top ten guy he has lost. Like with the Chael Sonnen fight he did awesome and a lot of people thought he could have won but he didn’t find the way to win.

And I am not knocking him – I think he’s a great fighter, I really do – but I question his mentality against top guys when the pressure is on. Which is pretty much what everyone says about him. He has had chances to fight for the title twice now and he doesn’t come through when the pressure is on.

In relation to the pressure Weidman was alluding to, Bisping, on four occasions, has failed to deliver against the division’s upper-echelon combatants—Rashad Evans, Wanderlei Silva, Dan Henderson (highlight-reel KO) and Chael Sonnen in a title-eliminator bout.

That said, Bisping (22-4 MMA, 12-4 UFC) will once again attempt to stake a realistic claim of vying for the title when he locks horns with ex-Marine Brian Stann at UFC 152.

Apropos Weidman, the 28-year-old rising star of the Zuffa-based promotion has been blowing his own trumpet ever since he defeated top Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner Demian Maia, but more so following his decimation of Mark Munoz at UFC on FUEL TV 4.

He’s convinced he can finish any fighter with a full camp behind him, and that includes UFC 185-pound champ Anderson “The Spider” Silva.

The Baldwin, New Yorker is also of the impression that he should be next in line for a tilt at Silva’s crown—a point he’s made by suggesting his two successive victories against the aforementioned combatants (who were ranked top five in the division) is justification enough for an immediate shot.

To date, Weidman (9-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) has scored three submission and three stoppage victories. Two of those five UFC outings garnered him Submission of the Night honors (Jesse Bongfeldt) and Knockout of the Night honors (Munoz).

 

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UFC on FOX 4: Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua vs. Brandon Vera Promo Video

Here is the promotional video for UFC on FOX 4: Mauricio Rua vs. Brandon Vera, which takes place in seven days’ time. Rua will attempt to bounce back from defeat following his highly acclaimed clash with Dan “Hendo” Henderson in November of…

Here is the promotional video for UFC on FOX 4: Mauricio Rua vs. Brandon Vera, which takes place in seven days’ time.

Rua will attempt to bounce back from defeat following his highly acclaimed clash with Dan “Hendo” Henderson in November of 2011.

The match in question garnered Fight of the Night honors and has also been heralded as one the greatest fights in the history of the Zuffa-based promotion.

At UFC 128, Jon Jones literally ripped the 205-pound championship from his grasp. Five months later, the PRIDE legend avenged a defeat over old foe and former 205-pound titlist Forrest Griffin, winning via first-round knockout.

Vera, a former WEC heavyweight tourney winner, is also on a redemptive mission of sorts having lost fights to Randy Couture, Jones and Thiago Silva (the fight with Silva was later overturned to a no-contest after it was revealed Silva’s urine sample was inconsistent with human urine).

That said, in his last outing, Vera scored a unanimous decision victory over Eliot Marshall.

The video also features co-main-eventers Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida and Ryan “Darth” Bader.

Machida has had a rough time of late and is looking to get back to his winning ways. First he lost his light heavyweight belt to Rua.

Next was a split-decision loss to Quinton Jackson before he turned the tide and defeated former two-division titlist Randy Couture. Nevertheless, in his last bout, he came unstuck against the divisional reigning champ, Jon “Bones” Jones.

With regards to Bader, not so long ago, he was near enough on the hot seat after falling to both Jones and former light heavyweight king Tito Ortiz.

However, two victories (Jason Brilz and “Rampage” Jackson) later, he’s now on course to make it three in a row, which could probably thrust him back into the title mix.

Here’s the show’s full card.

 

Preliminary Card

(FUEL TV 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT)

John Moraga vs. Ulysses Gomez

Michihiro Omigawa vs. Manny Gamburyan

Oli Thompson vs. Phil De Fries

Josh Grispi vs. Rani Yahya

Phil Davis vs. Wagner Prado

Nam Phan vs. Cole Miller

 

Main Card

(FOX 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT)

Mike Swick vs. DaMarques Johnson

Joe Lauzon vs. Jamie Varner

Lyoto Machida vs. Ryan Bader

Mauricio Rua vs. Brandon Vera

 

UFC on Fox: Shogun vs. Vera is scheduled to take place on August 4, 2012 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Calif.

 

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Why Chris Weidman Is Just Another UFC Fighter That Will Fall to Anderson Silva

Since Anderson Silva’s arrival at the gates of the UFC back in 2006, 15 fighters have fallen victim to MMA’s pound-for-pound king. If Chris Weidman also elects to take that route, he’ll become just another victim entangled in the web of &ld…

Since Anderson Silva‘s arrival at the gates of the UFC back in 2006, 15 fighters have fallen victim to MMA’s pound-for-pound king. If Chris Weidman also elects to take that route, he’ll become just another victim entangled in the web of “The Spider.”

At this moment in time, the star of “The All-American” is shining ever so brightly—he’s 9-0 in all competitions and 5-0 in the UFC and recently dismantled No. 3 contender Mark Munoz in scintillating fashion.

Long story short, the 185-pounder is on a tear—literally.

Weidman has wrestling pedigree almost on par with that of Chael Sonnen, but on two separate occasions, Sonnen’s ace of spades failed to completely nullify Silva.

Furthermore, the Brazilian’s takedown defense, which was his Achilles’ Heel in their first encounter, has undergone a makeover—he actually stuffed several of Sonnen’s takedown attempts.

So in that respect, Silva has that part of his game covered, and the assumption is that more improvement is underway, which would leave Weidman with one other option—to stand and strike.

His standup is improving, but nowhere near good enough to cause Silva problems.

Remember Chris Leben? Well he was one hell of a fistic banger until Silva put a 49-second end to his six-fight win streak. Vitor Belfort, another combatant from the hard-hitting persuasion, also suffered an opening-stanza starching.

With that in mind, Silva is one of the most technically gifted and precision-type strikers ever to have laced up a pair of MMA mitts, and no fighter as of yet has matched him in that department. So for Weidman to stand and bang would definitely result in an abrupt, cataclysmic fail.

The 37-year-old Sao Paulo native has only ever been submitted twice in his career; however, both submission defeats took place almost eight years ago. Since then, he’s tightened up his submission defense whilst earning a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt in the process.

At UFC 112 Silva fought BJJ expert Demian Maia and, knowing his limitations, kept the fight standing, en route to a lackluster yet unanimous decision.

Weidman (BJJ purple belt) is nowhere near Maia, let alone Silva, in the aforesaid discipline.

That said, Weidman has three submissions on his résumé to Silva’s six.

If the inevitable happens and Silva finds himself on his back, the chances of Weidman pulling off a submission are slim at best.

As earlier mentioned, Silva has improved.

It’s more likely the 28-year-old New Yorker will fall victim to a sub himself.

Presently, Silva has every aspect of the game on lockdown, and as a consequence Weidman is in for a rude awakening if and when he sets foot into the Octagon with The Spider.

And just like those before him, he will most surely fall.

 

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Jon Jones’ Reach, Height and Size: What’s the Fuss?

Certain sections of the MMA fraternity are of the impression that Jon Jones’ reach, height and size are the reasons he’s attained the status of UFC 205-pound champion, however, that’s a view I fail to share.Sure, his 6’4″ frame and 84.5-inch reach has …

Certain sections of the MMA fraternity are of the impression that Jon Jones‘ reach, height and size are the reasons he’s attained the status of UFC 205-pound champion, however, that’s a view I fail to share.

Sure, his 6’4″ frame and 84.5-inch reach has in some respects enabled him to achieve a certain level of success thus far in his career, but by no means has it been the alpha and omega of all his accomplishments.

Take Stefan Struve for instance. The Dutch combatant is 6’11” with a reach equivalent to the one “Bones” Jones has at his disposal.

And regardless of what division he fights in (heavyweight), on five occasions said attributes were ineffective, albeit he was facing off against much shorter adversaries with sometimes less arm reach than himself.

Several of those combatants include Junior dos Santos (6’4″ with a 77-inch reach), Roy Nelson (6’0″ with a 73-inch reach) and Travis Browne (6’7″ with a 78-inch reach).

In comparison, here’s a quick look at Jones’ conquests—Mauricio Rua (6’0″ with a 73-inch reach), Quinton Jackson (6’1″ with a 73-inch reach), Lyoto Machida (6’1″with a 74-inch reach) and Rashad Evans (5’11” with a 75-inch reach).

Before you say “Skyscraper” lacks the same skill set akin to Jones or that his cumbersomeness has hindered his progress, remember, even with inherent talent, proficiency in any discipline first has to be acquired and honed to the best of that individual’s ability; something the phenom has done and continues to do en route to MMA greatness.

Furthermore, another debate that arises is the fact Jones is too big for his weight class and therefore has an advantage over his oftentimes smaller opponents. His naysayer’s solution to this problem is for Jones to ply his trade amongst the heavy-hitters, a class above him.

With regard to size, did Cain Velasquez’s 240 pounds prevent him from overwhelming such behemoths as Brock Lesnar and Antonio Silva, who both weighed in the region of 265 pounds?

Or what about Dan Henderson, who weighed in at just 207 pounds, when he stopped the much heavier (223 pounds) Fedor Emelianenko?

No doubt when Jones derails Henderson’s title ambitions at UFC 151, the whole height, reach and size discussion will rear its ugly head again.

Truth be told, we’ll never know for sure how Jones would’ve fared if he’d possessed the same corporeal traits as his fellow 205-pounders.

Nevertheless, a fighter’s overall makeup isn’t and can’t be solely determined by their physical attributes—psychosomatics also plays its part.

 

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Daniel Cormier vs. Frank Mir Is Booked for Final Strikeforce Heavyweight Bout

It’s official, Daniel Cormier is slated to lock horns with former UFC heavyweight titlist Frank Mir in the last ever Strikeforce heavyweight bout. According to USA TODAY, both UFC and Strikeforce Companies have corroborated that Cormier’s f…

It’s official, Daniel Cormier is slated to lock horns with former UFC heavyweight titlist Frank Mir in the last ever Strikeforce heavyweight bout.

According to USA TODAY, both UFC and Strikeforce Companies have corroborated that Cormier’s final outing for the San Jose-based promotion before heading to the Zuffa-base organization will, in fact, be against Mir.

UFC head honcho Dana White was at hand to deliver the news.

There has been a lot of speculation as to who Cormier would fight next, and this is the fight that makes the most sense. The reality is, Cormier is one of the best heavyweights in the world. He just won the grand prix and beat Josh Barnett. He needs to fight opponents of that caliber, and Frank Mir is that guy.

In May of this year, Cormier defeated Josh Barnett in the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix finale to become tourney winner, since then, an opponent had been sought out for the 33-year-old to see out his contract.

One of the rumors making the rounds was that “DC” would face off against Tim Sylvia, another erstwhile UFC heavyweight champion—a rumor which White was quick to squash.

Presently, the former Olympian and NCAA Division I standout is currently 10-0 in his short MMA Career.

With regards to Mir (16-6 MMA, 14-6 UFC), the submission specialist is two months removed from his second unsuccessful shot at the heavyweight crown. He lost via second-round TKO courtesy of the reigning champ Junior dos Santos.

Cormier and Mir were initially cage bound for Sept 29 in the co-main event of Strikeforce: Gilbert Melendez vs. Pat Healy fight card.

However, John Morgan of MMAjunkie.com just tweeted that both combatants will now meet sometime in Oct or Nov at a soon-to-be announced event.

Furthermore, according to Yahoo! Sports, the Strikeforce Heavyweight belt which was initially on the line has been scraped in favor of a non title bout.

Later, ESPN caught up with Cormier, and this is what he had to say about his projected matchup with Mir.

I got exactly what I asked for. No matter who they put in front of me, I was going to prepare myself like a professional and get ready to fight. But I just did not know, with everything that has been said about guys crossing over (from Strikeforce to UFC), if they were going to be able to find someone who fit how my career has played out.

My career has played out where I’ve advanced at every step, from one guy to the next to the next. I wasn’t sure if there were too many guys outside of UFC who fit that. Frank Mir does that and even more.

He’s a guy I have a great amount of respect for, all of his accomplishments and what he’s done lately. I get to fight the guy who just fought for the UFC championship two months ago.

 

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