Chris Weidman offers to step in against Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 294 in place of Paulo Costa

chris weidmanFormer UFC middleweight Chris Weidman offers to step in for Paulo Costa and take on Khamzat Chimaev on short…

chris weidman

Former UFC middleweight Chris Weidman offers to step in for Paulo Costa and take on Khamzat Chimaev on short notice. 

Come fight night, the UFC 294 card is set to look considerably different to than it did just at the beginning of the week. Charles Oliveira is out of his fight with Islam Makhachev and will be replaced by Alexander Volkanovski. 

Now it seems that Costa will be replaced in his co-main slot against Chimaev after the Brazilian announced that had surgery on his elbow just a few weeks ago.

“Yeah, it’s possible,” White said of the fight falling through. “Hopefully in a couple hours I’ll have an answer for you.

“We’re talking to a couple of people right now.” 

If Costa is to be pulled out of the Chimaev bout, it would mark yet another cancelled fight, which is unfortunate considering his fun and explosive fighting style

Chris Weidman calls for matchup 

While finding an opponent for Chimaev on just 10 days notice, and considering the fight being all the way in Abu Dhabi, there will be someone brave enough. Going through the top-15 there isn’t a whole lot of names that could realistically take the fight considering injuries, bookings and individual situations. 

However, Chris Weidman threw his name his name into contention, and really that’s no shock considering the gameness of the 39-year-old. ‘The All-American’ has taken on the best if the best since entering the UFC at just 6-0.

I’d be down for that fight with Chimaev”, Weidman Tweeted following the news of a potential Costa pull out.

Weidman is at the end of the career and has just come back after a horrific leg break. The former 185lb king has also began to take more loses as of late, but was incredible during his prime. 

Should Chris Weidman be sent in to face Khamzat Chimaev at UFC 296?

Chris Weidman weighs up retirement ahead of Bruno Silva clash at UFC Atlantic City: ‘This could be my last fight’

Chris Weidman weighs up retirement ahead of UFC Atlantic City this could be my last fightFormer undisputed middleweight champion, Chris Weidman claims his upcoming UFC Atlantic City fight against Brazilian contender, Bruno Silva could…

Chris Weidman weighs up retirement ahead of UFC Atlantic City this could be my last fight

Former undisputed middleweight champion, Chris Weidman claims his upcoming UFC Atlantic City fight against Brazilian contender, Bruno Silva could come as his final bout in his storied mixed martial arts career, following his return from a catastrophic leg injury in his comeback against Brad Tavares at UFC 292 last August.

Weidman, a former undisputed middleweight titleholder, is slated to make his return to the Octagon at UFC Atlantic City at the end of March, taking on the aforenoted, Silva in his return.

Snapping a two-year-plus sidelining back in August against Tavares in his second consecutive loss, Weidman had dropped a 17-second TKO loss to Uriah Hall in the pair’s rematch, suffering a gruesome compound fracture of his right tibia and fibula. 

Chris Weidman weighs up retirement ahead of UFC Atlantic CIty

And ahead of his return on the East Coast in two months’ time, former undisputed middleweight kingpin, Weidman claimed that his incoming fight with Silva may come as his final in his storied mixed martial arts career.

“Honestly, I wasn’t sure,” Chris Weidman said of a comeback after his UFC 292 loss during a recent interview with Daniel Cormier. “I’m setting myself up for the future, and I wasn’t sure. I was kind of listening to my body and trying to get healthy. Mentally and motivational-wise, and technique-wise. I still think I’m top of the world, but my body’s just taking a beating.”

“This could be my last fight,” Chris Weidman explained. “I’m gonna kind of make that decision throughout the training camp and see how I feel. If my body can handle a hard training camp again, and it might be the last one, it might not be.” 

Landing the middleweight title back in 2013 in a shocking upset win over Anderson Silva, Baldwin native, Weidman then defeated the Curitiba native in an immediate rematch, before taking on his compatriots, Vitor Belfort, and Chris Weidman in future championship defenses.

Do you expect Chris Weidman to call time on his career after UFC Atlantic City?

Ex-UFC champion Chris Weidman suffers another fractured leg in Octagon return at UFC 292

Chris WeidmanTwo years ago, Chris Weidman suffered one of the most brutal injuries in UFC history. 28 months removed from his devastating first-round leg break against Uriah Hall, ‘All-American’ made his return to the Octagon on August 19, featuring on the UFC 292 prelim card. It was a cause for celebration, but sadly, things did not […]

Chris Weidman

Two years ago, Chris Weidman suffered one of the most brutal injuries in UFC history.

28 months removed from his devastating first-round leg break against Uriah Hall, ‘All-American’ made his return to the Octagon on August 19, featuring on the UFC 292 prelim card. It was a cause for celebration, but sadly, things did not go Chris Weidman’s way that evening. Matched up with Brad Tavares, Weidman suffered a lopsided unanimous decision loss after Tavares targeted Weidman’s lead leg for a full 15 minutes.

To his credit, Chris Weidman finished the fight, but as it turns out, the former middleweight world champion suffered yet another devastating leg break.

“There was no ligament tears at all,” Weidman revealed on his Sirius XM show. “So ACL, LCL, MCL, PCL, all those ‘Ls’ that you do not want to tear because that’s like six months to a year of recovery. The ligaments are good. What did happen to me though, I have a fracture in my left leg. So he broke my leg with one of those leg kicks.

I ended up switching to southpaw and figuring it out. But I’m pretty sure that’s when my leg broke, fractured it. It’s on the tibula head, right below my knee is where it broke. Upper tibia bone is what’s fractured. Recovery-wise, it’s not bad at all. Four weeks. Four-week recovery, that’s it” (h/t MMA Mania).

Fortunately, the injury wasn’t as severe as the one he endured in 2021, but it will keep Weidman on the shelf for a minute while he recovers.

Will Chris Weidman Take Dana White’s Advice?

Whether or not he returns to the Octagon remains to be seen, but UFC President Dana White recently pleaded with the ex-champ to hang up his gloves after being soundly beaten by Tavares in Boston. However, Chris Weidman still has fights left on his contract that the promotion is contractually obligated to honor, should ‘All-American’ choose to fight again.

Chris Weidman’s biggest win came more than a decade ago when he shockingly scored a second-round knockout against Anderson Silva, ending the legend’s iconic middleweight title reign at UFC 162. Weidman went on to defend the strap against Lyoto Machida and Vitor Belfort before relinquishing the crown to Luke Rockhold. Weidman would go on to lose six of his last eight fights, including the loss to Brad Tavares in August.

Weidman has already insisted that his career in combat sports is far from over.

Chris Weidman shuts down pleas for retirement despite one sided UFC 292 loss: ‘I’ll be back better than ever’

Chris Weidman shuts down calls from Dana White for his retirement after UFC 292 better thsn everFormer undisputed middleweight champion, Chris Weidman has shut down suggestions from promotional president, Dana White to retire from combat sports with immediate effect following his one-sided unanimous decision loss to Brad Tavares at UFC 292 over the weekend. Making a return to the Octagon for the first time in over two-years, Baldwin native, Weidman made […]

Chris Weidman shuts down calls from Dana White for his retirement after UFC 292 better thsn ever

Former undisputed middleweight champion, Chris Weidman has shut down suggestions from promotional president, Dana White to retire from combat sports with immediate effect following his one-sided unanimous decision loss to Brad Tavares at UFC 292 over the weekend.

Making a return to the Octagon for the first time in over two-years, Baldwin native, Weidman made his comeback from a ghastly injury, suffering a compound fracture of his right tibia and fibula in the opening round of his UFC 261 rematch with Uriah Hall back in April 2021. 

Returning from injury at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts, Weidman turned in a tentative performance over the course of three rounds against the above-mentioned Hawaiian veteran, Tavares, dropping a unanimous judging loss.

Likely suffering a cruciate ligament injury in his left knee during the outing in his return, Weidman was urged to consider retiring from professional mixed martial arts competition by UFC leader, White

“I love Chris Weidman – I love him,” Dana White said. “I love his family, I think he should retire. We talked to Dr. [Davidson], he thinks he [Chris Weidman] blew his ACL, MCL – he blew one of his CLs. The guy is just coming back from a gruesome injury and, listen, man, father time is not our friend at all. But definitely, if you’re a professional athlete.”

“Depending on the damage to the knee, you’re talking another year,’ White explained. “So I would say, ‘Chris, I love you, please, please retire.”

Chris Weidman shuts down calls for him to retire after UFC 292

However, according to Weidman, despite the apparent “ring rust” he displayed in his return, he plans to make another outing under the UFC banner, claiming he will be “back better than ever”. 

“There was hesitancy,” Chris Weidman said during the post-fight show following UFC 292. “There was probably a little bit og ring rust. No excuses, I told Brad (Tavares) after the fight, he’s an awesome dude, and we kind of stood there the first round. I guess he was kind of worried about my takedown and I was just kind of getting a feel to be in there again.”

“I’m not done,” Chris Weidman explained. “I’ll be back better than ever, but this was a good opportunity for me to get back in the Octagon.” 

Would you like to see Chris Weidman retire after his UFC 292 loss?

Dana White urges Ex-Champion Chris Weidman to hang up gloves following UFC 292 loss: ‘Please, please retire’

Chris Weidman urged to retire from MMA after UFC 292 loss by Dana WhiteUFC president, Dana White has urged former undisputed middleweight champion, Chris Weidman to call time on his career, after suffering a rather one-sided unanimous decision loss to Brad Tavares in his Octagon return at UFC 292 last night in Boston, Massachusetts. Weidman, a former undisputed middleweight champion, returned from a gruesome compound fracture of his […]

Chris Weidman urged to retire from MMA after UFC 292 loss by Dana White

UFC president, Dana White has urged former undisputed middleweight champion, Chris Weidman to call time on his career, after suffering a rather one-sided unanimous decision loss to Brad Tavares in his Octagon return at UFC 292 last night in Boston, Massachusetts.

Weidman, a former undisputed middleweight champion, returned from a gruesome compound fracture of his right tibia and fibula last night against the aforenoted perennial contender, Tavares – dropping a decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) defeat to the Hawaiian over the course of three rounds

The outing came as the Baldwin native’s first since he suffered a catastrophic leg injury back in 2021 in a rematch against Uriah Hall, however, the returning Serra-Longo MMA staple failed to get going throughout his comeback against Tavares, taking significant damage to his left leg from the onset and throughout. 

Chris Weidman urged to consider retiring after UFC 292 loss

Sharing his thoughts on Weidman’s future following his second consecutive loss last night, UFC leader, White revealed that the former champion likely suffered a cruciate ligament injury in his left leg during his fight with Tavares, and urged him to heavily consider retiring from combat sports competition.

“I love Chris Weidman – I love him,” Dana White told assembled media after UFC 292. “I love his family, I think he should retire. We talked to Dr. [Davidson], he thinks he [Chris Weidman] blew his ACL, MCL – he blew one of his CLs. The guy is just coming back from a gruesome injury and, listen, man, father time is not our friend at all. But definitely, if you’re a professional athlete.”

“Depending on the damage to the knee, you’re talking another year,’ White explained. “So I would say, ‘Chris, I love you, please, please retire.” 

Without a victory since August 2020, Weidman’s most recent win came in the form of a unanimous decision win over current PFL (Professional Fighters League) contender, Omari Akhmedov. 

Would you like to see Chris Weidman hang up his gloves after UFC 292?

Chris Weidman suffers one sided decision loss to Brad Tavares in return from leg injury – UFC 292 Highlights

Chris Weidman suffers decision loss in return from leg injury at UFC 292 Brad TavaresMaking his first Octagon walk in over two years after suffering a ghastly leg fracture back in 2021, former undisputed middleweight champion, Chris Weidman turned in a valiant effort, albeit a losing return, in a comeback at UFC 292 against Brad Tavares — dropping a unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) loss at the TD Garden. […]

Chris Weidman suffers decision loss in return from leg injury at UFC 292 Brad Tavares

Making his first Octagon walk in over two years after suffering a ghastly leg fracture back in 2021, former undisputed middleweight champion, Chris Weidman turned in a valiant effort, albeit a losing return, in a comeback at UFC 292 against Brad Tavares — dropping a unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) loss at the TD Garden.

Weidman, who had been sidelined since suffering a compound fracture of his right tibia and fibula back at UFC 261 in a rematch against Uriah Hall, made his first outing tonight inside the Octagon since that Jacksonville, Florida clash, taking on fellow perennial middleweight, Tavares.

And turning in a hesitant performance largely throughout the entirety of their three round clash, Baldwin native, Weidman was almost stopped with leg kicks in the second round, with Tavares heavily targeting the left standing limb of the former champion, resulting in a developing limp and noticeable grimace.

Receiving plaudits for his gusty performance against adversity, Weidman, a staple of Serra-Longo MMA in New York — suffering a relative comprehensive, unanimous decision loss to the above-mentioned, Tavares, dropping his second consecutive defeat.

Below, catch the highlights from Chris Weidman’s return at UFC 292