UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva is set to defend his crown for the 11th time, hoping to extend his own record as the greatest mixed martial artist of all time.
But in his opponent is a young and compelling talent. Chris Weidman is a man many, including welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre, consider in possession of the wrestling gift that will finally end Silva’s reign.
Silva, however, has seen it all before. Having been fighting as a professional since the 1990s, the Brazilian has fought on the biggest stage many times. For him, Weidman is just another one of many challengers who are supposed to beat him.
Weidman, on the other hand, has had a short and meteoric rise to prominence. In just three short years as a professional, he stands at the biggest night of his career when the action goes down July 6. Here’s a brief look at the careers of the two protagonists.