Despite all the adversity in recent years, Chris Weidman is still hopeful that he’ll one day be UFC champion again.
The former middleweight titleholder has been out of action for almost two years, recovering from a nasty leg break that he suffered in his fight against Uriah Hall back at UFC 261 in 2021. The 38-year-old has had four surgeries en route to recovery, but he’s finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
Weidman intends to finally make a return to MMA in June, as he’s told he should then be 100 percent ready to compete. When he does return, he wants his comeback fight to kickstart another title run.
“I’m not coming back to be a B-rated fighter or a gatekeeper or anything like that,” Weidman said on The MMA Hour. “I went through all this hell not to just comeback and be like that. I’m going to come back and try to get back what is mine, try and get that belt.
“After analyzing these guys and watching the middleweight division these last two years, with everyone at the top of the division, I don’t think there’s any reason why I can’t beat those guys. I’m excited to work my way up and get there soon.”
Weidman would like to get a top 10 or top 15 fighter for his return. If victorious, he’d like to then move to a top five and then enter title contention.
Weidman is 2-5 since losing the UFC belt to Luke Rockhold in 2015. He knows it’s a tough task to get the belt once again, but believes the top of the division to be full of good matchups for him.
“I think my skill set matches up really great with the top guys, and I’m excited to get there, and yeah, I think there’s a road to that,” Weidman explained. “I beat someone in the top 15, then fight someone in the top 5, and I’m there.
“I have a lot of work to do, and I’m excited for the challenge. I’m not putting myself through this crap just to come back and like fight some guys that I know I can beat or have a big name fight. I’m trying to shock the world again. There’s not going to be too many people that are thinking I can come back, and that excites me. It puts a chip on my shoulder.”
