Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman has been absent from the Octagon for almost two years now. A catastrophic leg injury sustained against Uriah Hall back in April 2021 has kept Weidman sidelined since then, but in a recent appearance on The MMA Hour, Weidman revealed that he plans to return to MMA this summer, with his first competitive appearance in March at Polaris 23, a grappling-only competition.
“It’s been a long road. I’ve been enduring this injury and recovery. It’s been four surgeries, I’ve had infections, it’s pretty much been hell. I’ve been asked a few times to do grappling events over the years and it just never really works out time-wise.
Weidman Targeting Summer Return to UFC
I did the Abu Dhabi [Combat Club] back in 2009, I did the trials and then I got to go to the Abu Dhabis in Barcelona, Spain, and it was a great opportunity for me. I really enjoyed it and I always felt like I’d do grappling more often because I like doing it, but obviously MMA took over and that was what I’ve been focused on.
But because my leg is still kind of healing, there are still some things standup-wise that I’m still dealing with, some issues with pain, and I was offered this Polaris grappling match, so I go, ‘You know what, this might be a good opportunity to get into a competition, get used to competing again, not just come in with complete ring rust in my next fight when I come back to the UFC’ I just thought it was great timing.” When he does come back, Weidman wants someone at the top of the division he once ruled.
“I would say someone in the top 15. Anyone from 10-15. I was like, 12 or something when I left, so somewhere in there. I’m not coming back to be a B-rated fighter or a gatekeeper or anything like that. I went through all this hell not just to come back and be like that. I’m coming back to try and get back what is mine, try to get that belt. After analyzing all these guys and watching the middleweight division these last two years, with everybody at the top of the division, I don’t think there’s any reason I can’t beat those guys. So I’m excited to work my way up and get there.”
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