After months of calling Anderson out, pleading to Dana White for the match and certain fans’ outcries, there can be no more talk of Anderson Silva “ducking” Chris Weidman. After an oddly quiet month from Weidman after almost obnoxiously calling out Anderson on a week-to-week basis, somehow both sides have come to an agreement, and the middleweight number one contender will finally face the greatest mixed martial artist of all time on July 6th at UFC 162. Let’s take a look at the matchup that has felt like it’s been in the making for years.
Anderson Silva had a pretty nice 2012, after sending Chael Sonnen to the light heavyweight division with a typically impressive second round TKO, he was a company man and destroyed light heavyweight Stephan Bonnar at UFC 153.
Chris Weidman didn’t have has as good of a year, his house was destroyed in hurricane Sandy and he has been recovering from shoulder surgery going on a year now. In the Octagon, at least, he was undefeated at 2-0 with wins over Demian Maia (after cutting thirty pounds in a little over ten days, and and impressive knockout of Mark Munoz.
So how do the two men match up?
Weidman is huge. I’ve stood next to him, and he’s a massive middleweight. That doesn’t completely matter, as Anderson has had his way with Yushin Okami, Chael Sonnen and Stephan Bonnar with ease, but Weidman has NCAA division I wrestling to go along with his Renzo Gracie BJJ game, and wrestling is the closest thing Anderson has to an achilles heel. His striking has come along in recent years, and although he is the true number one contender that many have said will be the man to finally crush Anderson, we don’t think so. Here’s why:
- Weidman will fight 360 days after his last fight, which was against an admittedly ring-rusted Mark Munoz in July of 2012.
- At 9-0 he is one of the least experienced fighters to ever face Anderson.
- His striking is not up to par with Anderson’s (is anybody’s?)
- He will have to rely on his wrestling game, but will he be able to neutralize Anderson’s BJJ?
- Coming off shoulder surgery.
- Weidman could be distracted by the utter destruction of his home and neighborhood in the tragic Sandy superstorm.
- Anderson is the greatest ever.
What do you guys think? Is Weidman the man to knock Anderson off his middleweight throne?
