Ex-UFC champion Chris Weidman announces official retirement from combat sports
Former undisputed middleweight champion, Chris Weidman has confirmed his retirement from UFC competition tonight with immediate effect, bringing the curtain down on a gold laden mixed martial arts career dating back to a 2009 debut.
Weidman, a former undisputed middleweight titleholder under the banner of the UFC, has been sidelined from competition since returning at UFC 310 last month, taking on Eryk Anders in a rescheduled light heavyweight pairing, where he dropped a second round knockout loss.
Returning to action following a gruelly compound fracture of his right leg back in 2020, Baldwin veteran, Weidman made good on his return from injury with a controversial decision win over Brazilian contender, Bruno Silva at UFC Fight NIght Atlantic City last March, which came as his final mixed martial arts victory.
Chris Weidman confirms UFC retirement tonight
And tonight during the UFC 311 weigh-in show, Chris Weidman confirmed his retirement from mixed martial arts competition, departing the UFC as a result.
“Since I decided to get into this sport, since 2009, the goal was to be a UFC fighter,” Chris Weidman said on the UFC 311 weigh-in show.. “Then immediately the goal was to be a UFC world champion. Fourteen years later, I’m here and I’m here to tell you guys I’m hanging up the gloves in the UFC. I’m no longer going to be fighting for the organization that changed my life in so many ways. I’m just super appreciative to everybody that got me here.”
“It’s been a ride. From being an undefeated world champion and being able to beat one of the greatest of all time in Anderson Silva, and then being able to defend my belt three times against some of the greatest legends of the sport,” Chris Weidman explained. “Even from the amount I’ve learned about myself in dealing with adversity and injuries, I’ve had 30 surgeries. I put my body through a lot and to be able to overcome a lot of that was always tough.
“I’m just proud that the UFC gave me an outlet to compete against some of the best guys in the world. I’m proud of the résumé and the type of guys I was able to fight. I respect them all so much.”
Winning Octagon spoils back in 2013, Weidman ended the legendary middleweight run of Anderson Silva with a brutal knockout win, before landing another victory over the Brazilian later than same annum, with the Brazilian fracturing his own leg in devastating fashion.
Defending the middleweight crown on three occasions total, Weidman would take out both former promotional champions, Lyoto Machida, and Vitor Belfort with decision and knockout successes, respectively.
