Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
“I will tell you that I am definitely not ready to retire. I still love this and am very hungry to get back in there.”
If his latest Instagram post is anything to go by, Chris Weidman won’t be hanging up the gloves anytime soon.
Weidman was brutally knocked out by Dominick Reyes in his light heavyweight debut at UFC on ESPN 6 and, after having suffered five KO’s in his last six fights, UFC president Dana White strongly hinted that retirement could be on the horizon for ‘All-American’.
In his UFC on ESPN 6 post-fight statement, however, Weidman stated that his desire to return to the Octagon is stronger than ever, arguing that he would have been gifted a light heavyweight title shot against Jon Jones if things had played out differently on fight night.
“I just want to let everyone know I’m all good just obviously bummed with the result,” Weidman posted. “I knew Dom was a tough fight and he proved to be more than that with a beautiful timed left hand that put me down in the first. I jumped in with a right hand and the range was off and he capitalized. Sucks for me.
As for what is next for me. I’m hearing a lot of “you should retire comments” and I get where you are coming from based on the results of my recent fights. It’s crazy because with a win over Reyes the chances of me fighting for the world championship were very strong. Now to be getting hit with the retirement talk is really a big swing for me to get used to hearing. I will tell you that I am definitely not ready to retire. I still love this and am very hungry to get back in there.
I believe I have the abilities to still be world champion. I know some of you are shaking your head and laughing at me when I say that. Well screw you and thanks for the motivation,” Weidman said. “This fight I was coming off a year lay-off, two major surgeries, and a weight class change. Way too much time out of the gym and I feel like that did play a role in this fight.
The fact that I’m healthy right now and can get back in the gym is territory that I’m not used too. I will be back soon and I will look good doing it. Thank you everyone for your support and I’m sorry to let you down. This extreme low in my career will be part of my story and I will finish on top.”
As of today, Weidman is ranked #8 in the UFC’s official middleweight rankings.