Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman has a plan for his UFC return. Two years ago, Weidman snapped his leg fighting Uriah Hall.
Now, with Weidman set to return at UFC 292 this August, he plans to address the elephant in the room as quickly as he can, telling Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour that he want to open proceedings with “the hardest leg kick of my life.”
Chris Weidman To Open With “Hardest Leg Kick Of My Life” In UFC Return
“The first thing I’m doing in that fight against Brad Tavares is throwing the hardest leg kick of my life, right on his shinbone.
I do want to do that. It’s worth it, I think it’s important for you to face your fears. Anything you might be uncomfortable with, just go ahead and do it.
Yeah, that’s why I need to kick with it quick. Get it out of the system. I just hope Brad Tavares, I hope we’re on the same page. He’s not allowed to check the first leg kick. Just let it land, please. Then all is good after that, may the best man win.”
As for his recovery from the brutal injury, Weidman insists that he’s 100% good to go. “I’m good to go.
Obviously, a long recovery, lots of drama throughout the whole thing. A way longer layoff than I initially expected. It all happened for a reason, so here we are. Yeah, the pain and everything is good now. Kicking is no problem, being kicked is no problem, so I’m ready to go. I feel really healthy.”
As a former title holder, Weidman could feasibly have had his pick of 185-pounders, but wanted a challenge for his comeback fight. Brad Tavares is certainly not a man he wants to underestimate.
“I think he brings enough danger for me to take it very serious. I’ve got a lot of respect for him, so it excites me that I’m preparing really hard for this, but it’s also not the worst matchup in the world for me. It’s not like I’m coming back into a fight where I’ve got some killer in front of me.
I think it’s important for me to work my way back up and do it smart, and I think Brad Tavares — no disrespect to him, he’s a good dude, a good fighter — I just think there could be worse matchups for me in the top 10, top 15. I think it’s a great matchup to come back to.”
