Chris Weidman breaks his leg on a kick to the legs of Uriah Hall during UFC 261. Photo: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman returns to action on Saturday – after more than two years absence from the octagon – to face Brad Tavares on UFC 292 in Boston.
However, the former middleweight king is not happy at all with his spot on the fight card.
“It’s kind of disrespectful, to be honest. I’m not going to pretend like it’s not,” Weidman recently told ESPN. “Like, to be out for two years, with a broken injury – I broke my leg on the mats in the UFC on a pay-per-view – first card ever since COVID, first fully packed arena in Jacksonville. I put my body on the line, and then they put me on a prelim?”
The 39-year-old comes into the fight with the intention to make a statement to prove he’s not done as a top athlete.
“It probably works out better for everybody at the end of the day, because it’s a little bit of motivation. But all right mother-effers, you disrespect me like that? What, do you think I’m done? Do you think I’m here to just see how I feel? No. I’m here to make a statement.”
Back in 2013, Weidman became the UFC middleweight champ by defeating the legendary Anderson ”Spider” Silva. He then defended the strap three times against Anderson Silva, Lyoto Machida and Vitor Belfort, before losing it to Luke Rockhold.