If there really are no guarantees in the sport of MMA, someone should alert Chris Weidman.
On a recent episode of UFC Tonight, the middleweight top contender was asked if he will defeat Anderson Silva at UFC 162 this weekend. A confident Weidman assured analysts Chael Sonnen and Kenny Florian that he would, though he didn’t stop there.
I will beat Anderson Silva on Saturday, and I’m going to be going for the finish. I honestly have a hard time visualizing this fight going five rounds, to be honest with you—with all due respect.
Silva has not only avoided a stoppage loss during his UFC career; “The Spider” hasn’t even been defeated in 16 fights under the Zuffa banner.
His title reign has aged seven years since he earned the 185-pound belt back in 2006. Weidman was just 22 years of age at the time, and the New York native did not make his professional debut until three years after, in 2009.
Silva’s fortitude compared to Weidman‘s relative inexperience places the champion as a 2:1 favorite heading into the Las Vegas event. The betting line hasn’t swayed the challenger, however. The five-fight UFC veteran already envisions himself with the middleweight belt.
Oh, I’ve envisioned (winning the title). I feel like any goal you have, you’ve got to live from that goal. So I’m living with that belt on right now. I’m already feeling that belt around my waist. I just have to make it happen on Saturday, and that’s what I’m going to do.
Twelve men have presumably entered a contest against Silva with that same mentality. The Brazilian sent all of them home (or to the hospital) without UFC gold.
But many consider Weidman as the top threat to superstar Silva. Plenty even believe Weidman is the man to finally end the champion’s longtime reign, including a number of UFC stars.
Former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar is one fighter picking Weidman to defeat Silva. Welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre is another.
Silva doesn’t seem to mind, and the hype surrounding Weidman doesn’t take away the fact that he’s fighting arguably the greatest MMA fighter of all time this Saturday.
But Weidman isn’t concerned with Silva’s all-time status. The contender is only concerned with getting in the Octagon.
My biggest concern was getting through this camp injury free, and I’ve done that. I’ve gotten through the hard work already. My biggest concern now is just to go in there and work hard. You know, fight my fight. That’s really it. I feel very confident, and I just want to get inside that cage.
UFC 162 takes place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, this Saturday. The middleweight title fight headlines the pay-per-view event.
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