Anderson Silva Leg Break Recovery News Update: Ex Middleweight Champ & Chris Weidman Say No to Rematch
- Nens Bolilan
- Jul 04, 2014 07:25 AM EDT
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Chris Weidman has always banged the drum, telling Anderson Silva that the new kid on the block is coming to take his place. He's accomplished his mission and thinks it's all in the past. The dethroned ruler, on the other hand, says he isn't contending, at least for now.
"Rematch with Chris Weidman is something that is not in my plans. He already defeated me twice, everybody saw this," he told MMA Fighting. The former middleweight champ is not looking to make vengeance or redemption upon his return to the Octagon, the Bleacher Report added.
Weidman sent shockwaves the world over a year ago when he knocked down Silva, who had his nearly seven-year era in the UFC broken by two losses in a span of seven months. The current champ, who began his rampage in 2012, went on to prove he was more than just a one-hit wonder during the rematch a few months later—in the match that hogged the headlines because of the broken leg which has sidelined Silva.
Instead of aiming too high, Silva was passing the torch to teammates Lyoto Machida and Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza as they try their hand at the new middleweight king. "Lyoto has an opportunity to fight him, we also have 'Jacare,' who's coming and looking for his way," Silva told MMA Fighting.
"Let's root for them to get their space in the UFC and get their shot at the title, win it, become great champions and bring big wins for Brazil," the fighter added.
Weidman will fight Lyoto Machida at UFC 175 this weekend, with Fox Sports claiming this would send the message that the Silva victories would be the crowning achievement of his career--only a trophy as he embarks on legacy-making.
"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. [But] I want to be known as one of the greatest of all time," Weidman said.
Silva plans to return sometime in 2015 with the mixed martial arts world abuzz of a potential bout against former Strikeforce welterweight champ Nick Diaz, said the Bleacher Report. Ed Soares, Silva's manager, also named Diaz as someone who Silva saw fighting on his comeback, and, on the opposite corner of the ring, Diaz said the feeling was mutual—if the money was right, which is a constant issue between Diaz and the UFC.
The prospect of the potential pay-per-view numbers of a game day headlining "Silva vs. Diaz" would help answer the price question. "Well, if everybody is saying that it would be an interesting fight, what am I going to say?" Silva said.But as the details are being ironed out, there's the Weidman fight—and an era he's looking to make—to look forward to.
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