Was Chris Weidman’s win over Anderson Silva a pure stroke of luck or a well-executed gameplan?
Chris Weidman was once one of the most famous fighters on the UFC roster. Being a middleweight champion at the peak of his powers, Weidman’s career has seen him hit the highest highs and the lowest lows. With that said, many often question his wins against the man many consider one of the GOATS, Anderson Silva.
For those who don’t know, ‘The All-American’ was one of the rising contenders in the UFC’s middleweight division in the 2010s. After making his UFC debut in 2011 against Alessio Saccara, Chris embarked on a dream run in the UFC. After the win, Weidman will go on a tear through the division.
With names like Demian Maia and Marc Munhoz, Weidman booked his ticket for a showdown against Anderson Silva. At the time, Silva was the reigning, conservative, undisputed king of the middleweights, sitting through 5 consecutive title defenses and 16 consecutive wins overall.
What happened when Chris Weidman fought Anderson Silva?
Although Chris Weidman was undefeated up to that point in his career, there was no doubt that he was the underdog going into the fight against Anderson Silva. Notably, their first fight took place at UFC 162, where Weidman came in as the challenger. Despite facing a significant task in Silva, Weidman started out of the gates with a takedown and heel hook attempt.
At the end of Round 1, Anderson Silva returned to the game and returned to his showmanship. However, in the middle of round 2, Anderson got a little flustered and received a flurry from Weidman that ended their fight. So the entire responsibility of the loss is Brazil. However, the second fight ended tragically with Silva breaking his leg.
He is a two-time former middleweight champ 🤯
This weekend @Chris Widman It’s back to the octagon #UFCAtlanticCity! pic.twitter.com/hTNhGml40z
— UFC (@ufc) March 27, 2024
Thus, two very favorable examples for Weidman, saw him claim and retain the middleweight title. At the same time, one can’t really make a case for the second win being valid considering the injury. At the same time, Anderson’s injury meant he couldn’t fight for a third time under the same circumstances. Further, what happened next led many to believe that the result against Silva was a fluke.
How was Chris Weidman after beating Anderson Silva?
After his historic victory over Anderson Silva in 2013, Chris Weidman was on top of the world. He would then go on to make 2 more title defenses against Lyoto Machida and Vitor Belfort, sealing his legacy as one of the greatest middleweight champions of all time. However, things would soon change for Weidman, and according to fans, it wasn’t because of any other fighter.
Previously, in 2015, the UFC signed an agreement with USADA, which would serve as its drug testing partner. Naturally, there were numerous leaks and rumors about fighters adopting unfair means to enhance performance. After the introduction of USADA, many fighters, including Chris Weidman, made changes to their physicality and performance inside the Octagon, something Michael Bisping once noted.
USADA partnered with the UFC on July 1, 2015.
Chris Weidman’s record:
Before USADA: 13-0
After USADA: 1-5Note: PEDs are not just for bulking up; So avoid the before-and-after pictures and look at the record.#UFCVegas6 #UFCFightnight
— GreenMan (@GreenManTalks) August 8, 2020
You never fail to make me laugh. You will get yours, if and when you win a battle. Usada since many injuries though, strange!😂
— Michael (@Bisping) June 26, 2016
Later that year, Weidman would lose his title to Luke Rockhold at UFC 194. After that, the American went 2-4 in his next six bouts, painting a very telling picture. Unfortunately, Chris suffered the same fate as Anderson in 2021, breaking a similar leg against Uriah Hall. Despite his return in 2023, it’s clear that Weidman is over it. However, ahead of the fight against Bruno Silva, Chris believes he is not retiring anytime soon.