As one of the best weekends of the year, there’s no better way to cap off celebrating our nation’s independence than to sit down with some friends and family and watch two of the best middleweights in the world go to war.
In a fight that will pin an un…
As one of the best weekends of the year, there’s no better way to cap off celebrating our nation’s independence than to sit down with some friends and family and watch two of the best middleweights in the world go to war.
In a fight that will pin an undefeated champion against arguably the best counter striker this sport has ever seen, Chris Weidman will finally get a chance to showcase his skills in a title fight not opposite Anderson Silva.
Instead, The All-American will try to defeat Brazilian jigsaw puzzle Lyoto Machida any way possible.
That’s much easier said than done, but Weidman certainly encompasses the well-rounded game to once again prove he’s the best 185-pound fighter on the planet.
Here’s a full head-to-toe breakdown gauging the advantages of each man as they set to lock horns on July 5.
For the first time in two years, Chris Weidman will enter the Octagon against somebody not named Anderson Silva.
The middleweight champion was originally scheduled to take on the surging Vitor Belfort at UFC 173. Elevated testosterone levels from…
For the first time in two years, Chris Weidman will enter the Octagon against somebody not named Anderson Silva.
The middleweight champion was originally scheduled to take on the surging Vitor Belfort at UFC 173. Elevated testosterone levels from Belfort and surgery on both of Weidman’s knees changed all of that.
Now slated to make his second title defense as the UFC middleweight king, Weidman will take his surgically repaired knees into the Octagon against Lyoto Machida on July 5 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas for UFC 175.
Considering Weidman only had surgery in April, much of the MMA community was left wondering whether or not Weidman would be able to recover in time for his fight against The Dragon.
Weidman initially called his surgeries a success. He posted this photo on his Instagram profile after the surgery:
Weidman’s long-time trainer Ray Longo wasn’t as quick to claim victory with Weidman’s surgeries, telling Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour:
As a trainer, I expected him, as far as I was told, to fly off the table and everything would be great. But he did have some pain in his knees maybe a week longer than I thought. When you’re in a fight, that week seems like it’s, you know, 18 years.
Middleweight champion or not, Weidman needs to be healthy against a rejuvenated Machida.
After a flash knockout and checking a leg kick against the former pound-for-pound best, Weidman’s wafer-thin, asterisk-ridden credibility as the champion would only dilapidate in losing to Machida. A dominant victory after two knee surgeries would placate any doubts and propel the 30-year-old Weidman into the same sentences as UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo.
Now, just two weeks before his title fight, Longo explained to Helwani he thinks his fighter is going to be just fine.
He’s going to do it. Again, it did sound, I think, worse than it was and if anybody can do it, Weidman is the guy to do it. I think he’s dealt with adversity his whole life. You know, we have to trust in the doctors at that point and they said it wouldn’t be an issue. It started off a little rough, but I’ll tell you this, he rounded the corner. His knees feel great and he’s ready to go.
It may be difficult to tell if Longo is speaking truths or simply speaking in support of his fighter. Videos like the one below might help prove that Weidman will, in fact, be ready for his fight in July.
Kristian Ibarra is a Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report. He also serves as the sports editor at San Diego State University’s student-run newspaper, The Daily Aztec. Follow him on Twitter at @Kristian_Ibarra for all things MMA.
There have been plenty of big moments in Lyoto Machida’s career, and another huge opportunity is rapidly approaching.
The former light heavyweight champion turned middleweight contender will square off against current titleholder Chris Weidman in…
There have been plenty of big moments in LyotoMachida‘s career, and another huge opportunity is rapidly approaching.
The former light heavyweight champion turned middleweight contender will square off against current titleholder Chris Weidman in the main event at UFC 175 on July 5 in Las Vegas, in what has become one of the most anticipated bouts of 2014.
The championship tilt will be Weidman‘s first showing inside the Octagon since upsetting former 185-pound king Anderson Silva in back-to-back outings in 2013.
The “All-American” will be looking to further cement his status as the best middleweight fighter on the planet and keep his undefeated record intact with a victory at UFC 175.
While Machida no longer carries the sheen of a flawless record with him into the Octagon, there will be no shortage of motivation where the Brazilian karate phenom is concerned.
“The Dragon” has been on a tear since dropping down into 185-pound waters last October, and his showdown with Weidman will give the 36-year-old the chance to put a definitive stamp on what has been an electrifying run through the middleweight ranks.
With two victories and a pair of impressive performances under his belt, Machida has certainly proven worthy of the title shot he is about to receive.
With that said, the opportunity to do so at UFC 175 is one that didn’t come without a few twists and turns.
The spot opposite the New York-based champion originally belonged to VitorBelfort. However, it wasn’t an opportunity the Brazilian knockout artist would hold on to for long, as he was removed from the bout shortly before he was set to apply for his license to fight.
While the reports were conflicting as to whether it was the UFC or Belfort himself that made the call to withdraw, there is no doubt the Nevada State Athletic Commission’s decision to ban testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) played a pivotal role.
Suddenly, the former two-division title challenger was out, and the UFC tapped Machida to step in and face the undefeated middleweight champion.
Though the Team Black House fighter will be looking to capitalize on his opportunity to once again compete for UFC gold, Machida also believes Belfort should receive the next shot at the middleweight strap.
In a recent interview with FoxSports.com, the former 205-pound titleholder addressed the matter of Belfort‘s position in the middleweight title picture.
“Logically, he’s next in line,” Machida said with the assistance on an interpreter.
While Machida believes Belfort should get the next crack at the middleweight crown, several hurdles remain in the heavy-handed slugger’s path before that opportunity would materialize.
The biggest of those obstacles will be receiving a license to fight, as Belfort recently released the results of a failed drug test that was administered randomly by NSAC back in February.
Nevertheless, while Belfort‘s road to the title remains uncertain, Machida‘s perspective on Weidman‘s legitimacy as champion is crystal-clear. The New York native shocked the world with his pair of wins over Silva, yet the manner in which those victories were obtained has left room for doubt in the minds of the passionate MMA fanbase.
Machida has taken a different perspective and believes he will step into the Octagon to face the best middleweight fighter in the world at UFC 175.
“There’s no doubt he’s the champion,” Machida said. “He’s the best there is in the weight class right now. He won those fights. You can’t take away those merits.”
Duane Finley is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless noted otherwise.
As it turns out, random drug tests are bad news for many of the UFC’s biggest stars.
After failing a random drug test, Chael Sonnen effectively retired from mixed martial arts—leaving the middleweight division’s No. 1 contender,…
As it turns out, random drug tests are bad news for many of the UFC’s biggest stars.
Belfort won’t be entering the Octagon against anybody next month, the UFC told MMAjunkie.
This leaves the former champion and fans wondering who he’ll be standing across in his next fight in the UFC. He failed a drug test and wasn’t suspended, but was successfully replaced by LyotoMachida in what would have been a title fight against Chris Weidman.
Months after the banning of testosterone replacement therapy, The Phenom is well on his way to becoming as transparent of a fighter as anyone can be. Fighters likely won’t use his alleged TRT abuse as a way of verbally luring him into the Octagon or as the crux of their complaints after they lose to him
He likely won’t be the exact same guy fans were accustomed to seeing these past three years—any allegedly clean fighter should be chomping at the bit to prove it.
Here are three fights Belfort should take in place of his UFC 175 bout:
Michael Bisping has changed his opinion on Belfort several times. He criticized his opponent before the fight about TRT use, but respectfully accepted the knockout loss immediately afterward.
It wasn’t until Belfort was pulled from a middleweight championship bout with Weidman that Bisping decided to sound off again.
A rematch with Belfort would not only help alleviate any concerns Bisping has about that loss on his record, but would also serve as a reliable source to prove how effective Belfort can be against the same opponent without TRT use.
Tim Kennedy
A win over Bisping would prove he’s still as good as he once was.
Kennedy is probably the fastest rising fighter at middleweight outside of the top five. He captured a knockout finish against Rafael Natal with an injured quadriceps, and grinded out solid victories against Bisping and Roger Gracie.
With a 3-0 UFC record, Kennedy’s strength could pose several problems for the aging Belfort.
Winner of Weidman vs. Machida
This one’s probably the most obvious bout for Belfort to take.
Not only would it help the No. 1 contender’s body become accustomed to life after TRT, but it would also grant Belfort the title shot he was promised in the first place.
It’s difficult to predict whether the UFC would gift Weidman or Machida an immediate rematch, assuming the champion loses or the challenger plays victim to a controversial loss.
Either way, Belfort’s no longer the young fighter he once was and it’s unlikely he’ll find himself in the title picture ever again if he loses to anybody who doesn’t have gold wrapped around his waist. He’d be wise to wait.
(The Predator in five-ounce gloves? Forget about it. / Props: Jose Ramiro)
While cruising DeviantArt.com this afternoon, we came across a bunch of freaky UFC/MMA-related fan art that makes Hassy’s obsession with Mark Hunt look downright normal. Check out 20 of the most disturbing examples, which continue after the jump, and click all the images for full-size versions.
(Chuck never looked like that. Ever. / Props: greysonfurrington)
(The Predator in five-ounce gloves? Forget about it. / Props: Jose Ramiro)
While cruising DeviantArt.com this afternoon, we came across a bunch of freaky UFC/MMA-related fan art that makes Hassy’s obsession with Mark Hunt look downright normal. Check out 21 of the most disturbing examples, which continue after the jump, and click all the images for full-size versions.
UFC 175 will play host to the first UFC Middleweight Championship bout not featuring Anderson Silva since 2006.
Champion Chris Weidman will defend the gold against Silva’s teammate Lyoto Machida in the five-round main event on July 4th weeken…
UFC 175 will play host to the first UFC Middleweight Championship bout not featuring Anderson Silva since 2006.
Champion Chris Weidman will defend the gold against Silva’s teammate LyotoMachida in the five-round main event on July 4th weekend. Insert fireworks pun here.
Weidman has shocked the world twice by beating Silva, and now he seeks new challenges as he makes his mark as world champion. Machida has dropped to 185 pounds, looking spectacular in his two bouts at the weight.
The championship match will be highly anticipated, and the UFC has a fight that it can market well. Machida vs. Weidman is the kind of fight that fans are clamoring for in 2014. It features two high-level athletes who can make for an exciting championship scrap.
Here is an early look into the championship matchup featuring Machida and Weidman.
For the first time in two years, 
