UFC middleweight contender Chris Weidman is poised to make a comeback to the octagon following a two-year hiatus caused by a leg break akin to those of Anderson Silva and Conor McGregor. Weidman is scheduled to face off against Brad Tavares in the preliminary card of UFC 292, an event slated for August 19th in Boston.
At his last bout at UFC 261 in April 2021 against Uriah Hall, Weidman suffered a traumatic leg injury and his road to recovery has been difficult. During the initial moments of the first round, Weidman delivered a forceful outside low kick.
Hall defended himself by using his left knee, resulting in a impact that led to the fracture of Weidman’s right fibula and tibia upon contact. The severity of the injury prompted referee Herb Dean to stop the match, declaring Hall the victor via technical knockout.
In the aftermath of the injury, Chris Weidman was swiftly transported to the hospital. At this critical time, one would anticipate the support of teammates and coaches. Surprisingly, Weidman expressed his disappointment in his coach Ray Longo for his absence during this trying time.
In a candid interview with Shak MMA, Weidman voiced his frustration and stated: “You would think the head coach would want to go with his guy to the hospital to make sure he is okay. Longo wanted nothing to do with it.”
Weidman went on to reveal that his coach opted to spend time at a bar rather than visit him at the medical facility. He continued: “While I was screaming in pain… he was nowhere to be found. He will never be forgiven for that.”
But the 39-year-old athlete really respects Longo and did not take the incident too seriously. He continues to train with him in preparation for his rematch at UFC 292. Weidman praised Longo in the same interview for not thinking about money and focusing just on the bouts and their game.
Weidman has recently taken time to reflect on the magnitude of his injury and its profound effect on his mindset, both physically and mentally. The middleweight athlete acknowledges that the injury served as a catalyst for introspection, offering him a clearer perspective on his priorities in life.
He also spoke on the trajectory of his career and how quickly things can change. Weidman has lost six of his previous eight matches, which makes his record seem ordinary. But MMA fans are aware of the sort of legend he has been.
For a considerable length of time, Weidman ruled the middleweight class of the UFC. He has successfully defended his title against icons like Anderson Silva, Vitor Belfort, and Lyoto Machida. The boxer wants to leave the sport on a good note as his career is coming to a close.
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