Tag: UFC 162

Chael Sonnen Relieved He Never Drew Chris Weidman as an Opponent

Chael Sonnen has never been one to back down from a fight, but he is also grateful the UFC never called for him to fight Chris Weidman.The former middleweight contender has been singing Weidman’s praises for months, and he certainly isn’t alone.Despite…

Chael Sonnen has never been one to back down from a fight, but he is also grateful the UFC never called for him to fight Chris Weidman.

The former middleweight contender has been singing Weidman‘s praises for months, and he certainly isn’t alone.

Despite skepticism from fans, many UFC fighters seem to believe Weidman will shock the world at UFC 162 by defeating Anderson Silva for the middleweight title. In the extended preview for the event, Sonnen admitted Weidman was one of the few fighters he preferred not to have to step into the cage against:

“Weidman far and away can beat Anderson. I will fight anybody at any time, but every time my phone rang, I would think, jeez, I hope they’re not going to tell me I got Chris Weidman.”

Weidman, a former NCAA All-American wrestler, is a true prodigy in every sense of the word.

With only one year of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training, he nearly defeated grappling legend Andre Galvao at the 2009 ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championship.

Weidman made his UFC debut in March 2011, and after only two years, he is already listed as the top contender in the middleweight division. Sure, he doesn’t bolster Olympic medals or NCAA titles, but Weidman‘s transition from wrestler to MMA fighter far exceeds that of even some of the most decorated grapplers.

During the extended preview, UFC commentator Joe Rogan compared Weidman‘s wrestling with UFC welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre, a world class grappler without any wrestling credentials.

Sonnen isn’t the type of fighter to throw around undeserved compliments regarding his peers. For a young fighter like Weidman, it has to be encouraging hearing some of the best fighters in the world talk up his chances against arguably the greatest fighter of all time.

Unfortunately for Weidman, talking about defeating Silva and actually going out there and doing it are two completely different things.

Will Weidman be able to succeed where so many others have failed?

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 162: Matt Serra Unable to Corner Chris Weidman Against Anderson Silva

Chris Weidman faces a monumental task ahead of him at UFC 162 when he faces UFC middleweight champion Anderson “The Spider” Silva. That obstacle just became a bit harder, as Weidman will be without one of his top coaches.According to MMA Fighting, Weid…

Chris Weidman faces a monumental task ahead of him at UFC 162 when he faces UFC middleweight champion Anderson “The Spider” Silva. That obstacle just became a bit harder, as Weidman will be without one of his top coaches.

According to MMA Fighting, Weidman‘s coach and former welterweight champion Matt Serra will be unable to corner his prized student.

Mike Chiappetta reportedly spoke to Ray Longo (Weidman‘s other main coach) and confirmed the reasoning behind Serra’s absence.

In April, it was discovered that Serra had thoracic outlet syndrome, which caused his rib and collarbone to compress a vein, restrict blood flow and cause clots. He required surgery to remove his first rib, the one closest to his collarbone. Unfortunately since then, he had another setback.

The health scare combined with the recent birth of his third child forced Serra’s hand in staying back for UFC 162.

“I’ll miss Matt, he kind of rounds me out as a coach,” Longo said. “It was a hard decision for him to have to make, but sometimes family has to come first.”

A family-first mindset seemed to be on Weidman‘s mind, as the middleweight title challenger looked to replace Serra with his own father for UFC 162.

I’m sure Weidman‘s father will provide great inspiration for the challenger, but he’ll undoubtedly miss the coaching advice from Serra.

Weidman has been a part of team Serra-Longo since day one in MMA and will look to match his mentor in pulling off one of the greatest upsets in MMA history against Silva at UFC 162.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

MMA’s Great Debate Radio: Chris Weidman & Debate About the Greatest of All Time

MMA’s Great Debate Radio is back for Tuesday’s show featuring a special interview with UFC 162 headliner Chris Weidman and all new debate surrounding Anderson Silva’s place as the greatest fighter of all time. Weidman joins the show today to talk about…

MMA‘s Great Debate Radio is back for Tuesday’s show featuring a special interview with UFC 162 headliner Chris Weidman and all new debate surrounding Anderson Silva‘s place as the greatest fighter of all time.

Weidman joins the show today to talk about all the facets of his upcoming bout against Silva on July 6 in Las Vegas.

Why is he so confident that he can beat Silva?

What did he learn from Chael Sonnen that he will use against Silva?  How is Weidman different from Sonnen?

All of these questions will be answered during Weidman‘s appearance on the show.

Also, the debate heats up surrounding the UFC 162 main event on today’s show including topics about Silva’s spot as the best fighter in MMA history.

Today’s topics include:

—What should the criteria be to decide who is the greatest fighter of all time?

—Can you make a case for someone other than Anderson Silva as the greatest of all time in MMA history?

—How much pre-fight talk about Chris Weidman from other fighters do you believe is reality vs. promotion?

—Is Chris Weidman truly Anderson Silva’s toughest challenge?

This is MMA’s Great Debate Radio for Tuesday, June 25, 2013

(If the embeddable player doesn’t work please click HERE.  Don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast via iTunes or listen on Stitcher Radio)

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 162 Preview: Anderson Silva vs. Forrest Griffin Full Fight Video

Anderson Silva has been sitting at the top of the pound-for-pound rankings for quite some time, but don’t think his road to the top didn’t have a couple of bumps in it. Two of those bumps preceded his UFC 101 fight against Forrest Griffin. …

Anderson Silva has been sitting at the top of the pound-for-pound rankings for quite some time, but don’t think his road to the top didn’t have a couple of bumps in it. Two of those bumps preceded his UFC 101 fight against Forrest Griffin.

Before facing Griffin at light heavyweight in the main event in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Silva had delivered two lackluster title defenses at middleweight.  After one of those bouts, Silva’s UFC 97 bout against Thales Leites, UFC president Dana White said (via Cage Potato), “I’ve never been embarrassed of a UFC fight like I was in the main event tonight.” 

After Silva’s performance against Griffin, that embarrassment was pretty much forgotten.

Going into the bout, Griffin was eight months removed from losing the UFC light heavyweight title to Rashad Evans. He was described by UFC commentator Joe Rogan as “the perfect type of fighter to be facing Anderson Silva.”

He wasn’t. Griffin proved to be no match for a motivated Silva.

The first minute followed the pattern that we have become familiar with for a Silva fight. Silva used the opening moments of the bout to gauge the movement, timing and distance of Griffin. When his mind had made all the required calculations, Silva dropped Griffin with a right hand.

After allowing Griffin to regain his feet, Silva flipped whatever switch he has that pushes him to a level on which few fighters can operate.  Silva was all feints and movement as he walked Griffin down, moving in for the kill.

Silva’s movements were almost like he knew where Griffin’s strikes were headed before Griffin even threw them. With 2:30 left in the first round, Silva’s hands were below his waist, as he showed no fear at all of Griffin.

Seconds later, Silva dropped Griffin with a left. Instead of swarming on Griffin, Silva allowed him to regain his feet, shaking hands with Griffin as he stood in front of him. By this time the seed had been firmly planted in Griffin’s head—he was not on Silva’s level.

That fact became perfectly clear when the final strike of the fight was thrown. Silva, stepping back, threw out what looked like a lazy, slapping right jab. When the punch found its mark, Griffin dropped to his back and waved his hands in the air in his own “no mas” moment.

It was quite a performance from Silva, one that had White singing a different tune after the event (via Fox News): “He’s unbelievable, he’s the most talented guy in the world, the best fighter in the world pound-for-pound, period.”

The win earned Silva “Fight of the Night” and “Knockout of the Night” bonuses.

Silva’s next fight will take place at the middleweight limit. On July 6, Silva will look to defend his title for the 11th time when he meets Chris Weidman in the main event of UFC 162. Weidman will be the 17th opponent for Silva during his UFC career. Not one of those fighters has been able to secure a victory over Silva.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 162 Preview: Anderson Silva vs. Forrest Griffin Full Fight Video

Anderson Silva has been sitting at the top of the pound-for-pound rankings for quite some time, but don’t think his road to the top didn’t have a couple of bumps in it. Two of those bumps preceded his UFC 101 fight against Forrest Griffin. …

Anderson Silva has been sitting at the top of the pound-for-pound rankings for quite some time, but don’t think his road to the top didn’t have a couple of bumps in it. Two of those bumps preceded his UFC 101 fight against Forrest Griffin.

Before facing Griffin at light heavyweight in the main event in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Silva had delivered two lackluster title defenses at middleweight.  After one of those bouts, Silva’s UFC 97 bout against Thales Leites, UFC president Dana White said (via Cage Potato), “I’ve never been embarrassed of a UFC fight like I was in the main event tonight.” 

After Silva’s performance against Griffin, that embarrassment was pretty much forgotten.

Going into the bout, Griffin was eight months removed from losing the UFC light heavyweight title to Rashad Evans. He was described by UFC commentator Joe Rogan as “the perfect type of fighter to be facing Anderson Silva.”

He wasn’t. Griffin proved to be no match for a motivated Silva.

The first minute followed the pattern that we have become familiar with for a Silva fight. Silva used the opening moments of the bout to gauge the movement, timing and distance of Griffin. When his mind had made all the required calculations, Silva dropped Griffin with a right hand.

After allowing Griffin to regain his feet, Silva flipped whatever switch he has that pushes him to a level on which few fighters can operate.  Silva was all feints and movement as he walked Griffin down, moving in for the kill.

Silva’s movements were almost like he knew where Griffin’s strikes were headed before Griffin even threw them. With 2:30 left in the first round, Silva’s hands were below his waist, as he showed no fear at all of Griffin.

Seconds later, Silva dropped Griffin with a left. Instead of swarming on Griffin, Silva allowed him to regain his feet, shaking hands with Griffin as he stood in front of him. By this time the seed had been firmly planted in Griffin’s head—he was not on Silva’s level.

That fact became perfectly clear when the final strike of the fight was thrown. Silva, stepping back, threw out what looked like a lazy, slapping right jab. When the punch found its mark, Griffin dropped to his back and waved his hands in the air in his own “no mas” moment.

It was quite a performance from Silva, one that had White singing a different tune after the event (via Fox News): “He’s unbelievable, he’s the most talented guy in the world, the best fighter in the world pound-for-pound, period.”

The win earned Silva “Fight of the Night” and “Knockout of the Night” bonuses.

Silva’s next fight will take place at the middleweight limit. On July 6, Silva will look to defend his title for the 11th time when he meets Chris Weidman in the main event of UFC 162. Weidman will be the 17th opponent for Silva during his UFC career. Not one of those fighters has been able to secure a victory over Silva.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 162 Preview: Anderson Silva vs. Forrest Griffin Full Fight Video

Anderson Silva has been sitting at the top of the pound-for-pound rankings for quite some time, but don’t think his road to the top didn’t have a couple of bumps in it. Two of those bumps preceded his UFC 101 fight against Forrest Griffin. …

Anderson Silva has been sitting at the top of the pound-for-pound rankings for quite some time, but don’t think his road to the top didn’t have a couple of bumps in it. Two of those bumps preceded his UFC 101 fight against Forrest Griffin.

Before facing Griffin at light heavyweight in the main event in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Silva had delivered two lackluster title defenses at middleweight.  After one of those bouts, Silva’s UFC 97 bout against Thales Leites, UFC president Dana White said (via Cage Potato), “I’ve never been embarrassed of a UFC fight like I was in the main event tonight.” 

After Silva’s performance against Griffin, that embarrassment was pretty much forgotten.

Going into the bout, Griffin was eight months removed from losing the UFC light heavyweight title to Rashad Evans. He was described by UFC commentator Joe Rogan as “the perfect type of fighter to be facing Anderson Silva.”

He wasn’t. Griffin proved to be no match for a motivated Silva.

The first minute followed the pattern that we have become familiar with for a Silva fight. Silva used the opening moments of the bout to gauge the movement, timing and distance of Griffin. When his mind had made all the required calculations, Silva dropped Griffin with a right hand.

After allowing Griffin to regain his feet, Silva flipped whatever switch he has that pushes him to a level on which few fighters can operate.  Silva was all feints and movement as he walked Griffin down, moving in for the kill.

Silva’s movements were almost like he knew where Griffin’s strikes were headed before Griffin even threw them. With 2:30 left in the first round, Silva’s hands were below his waist, as he showed no fear at all of Griffin.

Seconds later, Silva dropped Griffin with a left. Instead of swarming on Griffin, Silva allowed him to regain his feet, shaking hands with Griffin as he stood in front of him. By this time the seed had been firmly planted in Griffin’s head—he was not on Silva’s level.

That fact became perfectly clear when the final strike of the fight was thrown. Silva, stepping back, threw out what looked like a lazy, slapping right jab. When the punch found its mark, Griffin dropped to his back and waved his hands in the air in his own “no mas” moment.

It was quite a performance from Silva, one that had White singing a different tune after the event (via Fox News): “He’s unbelievable, he’s the most talented guy in the world, the best fighter in the world pound-for-pound, period.”

The win earned Silva “Fight of the Night” and “Knockout of the Night” bonuses.

Silva’s next fight will take place at the middleweight limit. On July 6, Silva will look to defend his title for the 11th time when he meets Chris Weidman in the main event of UFC 162. Weidman will be the 17th opponent for Silva during his UFC career. Not one of those fighters has been able to secure a victory over Silva.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com