Chael Sonnen, maybe the smartest man in mixed martial arts, got a big reaction when he said former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman represented the biggest threat to current division champion, the undefeated Israel Adesanya. On the latest episode of his Beyond the Fight, Sonnen invited Weidman on, and asked “The All American” if he can beat Adesanya.

Absolutely, said Weidman. I think that’s a tailor-made matchup for me. Those athletic strikers, tall lanky guys, I’ve proven that I can beat. I think pressure, wrestling, heavy punches and kicks … just nonstop pressure is what you need to beat them. That’s the recipe that beats those guys. I’ve proved that with Anderson Silva twice, Uriah Hall another one. Those guys are in trouble against me.

I think that’s an exciting fight to make. If you look up and down the rankings, I don’t think there’s too many other fights that can excite people the way our narratives could work, and what I bring to the table. It’s not any bulls***, it’s just facts. If you’re into MMA and you really understand the game, you look at my game and you know I present some serious trouble for Adesanya, and more than anybody’s ever had in the past. He hasn’t really fought any other great, accoladed wrestler, other than Yoel Romero who doesn’t use his wrestling so I don’t even count that. I’m the type of guy that will bring that pressure, and I will take him down and ragdoll him on the floor.

Weidman is ranked #9 in the division, and is on a one-fight win streak, a unanimous decision over Omari Akhmedov at UFC on ESPN+ 32 on August 8, 2020, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The win was a return after moving up to light heavyweight and losing via KO in one to Dominick Reyes at UFC on ESPN 6 on October 18, 2019.

Looking at the UFC top 10, UG, what fight should Wiedman take and win to get a title shot?
1. Robert Whittaker
2. Paulo Costa
3. Jared Cannonier
4. Jack Hermansson
5. Yoel Romero
6. Darren Till
7. Derek Brunson
8. Kelvin Gastelum
9. Chris Weidman
10. Uriah Hall

H/t Derek Hall for Middle Easy