Weidman: Moving past Anderson Silva is ‘kind of a bummer’
Chris Weidman: “It’s also kind of a bummer to move past Anderson Silva because it was a big part of my life. I was visualizing fighting that guy since I got into the sport.”
Anderson Silva recently said UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman beat him twice and a third fight is not in his plans.
When the high point of your career is twice beating the greatest fighter in your division’s history – or maybe any division – how does it feel to move on? UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman recently appeared on FOX Sports’ The Great MMA Debate podcast, and described it as ‘bittersweet’.
Weidman fights Lyoto Machida in the main event of UFC 175 Saturday night, live on PPV.
“I’m happy to move past it, but It’s also kind of a bummer to move past Anderson Silva because it was a big part of my life,” said Weidman as transcribed by David St. Martin for MMAFighting. “I was visualizing fighting that guy since I got into the sport. He was a big motivating factor in my life for a long time so to move past it is kind of bittersweet. Now I get to start my own era and show everybody what I can do.”
“I want to be known as one of the greatest of all time. I’ve got a list of guys in front of me in my weight class to fight and beat that can give me a legacy. My goal? I’ve just got to keep winning. Keep winning fights. Hold on to the belt as long as possible. Clear out the division, maybe some super fights and call it a day.”
“Honestly, I haven’t been thinking about Vitor. He has his own issues he has to deal with. Lyoto Machida’s the guy I’m thinking about. I have no dreams of fighting Vitor Belfort. If it were Anderson Silva it would be a different story, but Vitor Belfort is not one of the guys I’m thinking about fighting every day.”
“Stylistically [Machida’s] going to be the same as he was at 205. Going down might make him feel a little quicker, a little stronger and maybe give him more confidence. I’m expecting a very confident Lyoto Machida, but I’m going to break his will.”
“100%. That’s the goal. I feel like anyone at middleweight, when I have a full training camp, I’m going to go out there and finish them. That’s my mentality. I won’t stop. The whole fight will be me trying to finish him. If it goes five rounds, I’m not losing the decision because I’m almost finishing him the whole time. I’m always prepared for a war, but I’m looking for the finish the whole time. I won’t be happy unless I finish him.”