Chris Weidman Inked New UFC Deal Right Before UFC 205 Press Conference
Chris Weidman was a rather late addition to the massive New York card at UFC 205 next month, when he takes on Cuban power-house Yoel Romero in front of the Madison Square Garden crowd.
Just before making the trip over for the UFC 205 press conference earlier this month, Weidman revealed that he had just inked a new contract with the UFC after wanting to get paid for what he felt he was worth:
“There was definitely money, trying to get paid what you feel like you deserve,” Weidman said (courtesy of MMA Junkie). “But it wasn’t just as simple as just a number for this fight. You’re starting up a whole new contract, so it gets pretty detailed on what everybody is looking for in the new deal.”
Weidman, once the reigning undefeated champion of the UFC’s 185-pound division, suffered his first mixed martial arts (MMA) loss when he was finished by Luke Rockhold in the fourth round of their co-main event meeting at UFC 194 this past December. The pair were scheduled to rematch in the main event of UFC 199, but ‘The All American’ was sadly forced out of the contest due to an injury sustained in training camp.
Michael Bisping would step in on two weeks notice to replace Weidman, and would go on to knockout Rockhold in the first round to secure his first ever UFC title.
With a potential win over Romero come fight night in New York, Weidman is hoping to get a shot at winning his title back from Bisping, not a redemption match against the man who handed him his first professional loss in Rockhold:
“We’ve got time; we’re both semi-young in this game,” Weidman said. “The money fight is the title fight. That’s what I’m looking for. I’m not looking to avenge a loss and not get paid what a champion does.”
For now, Weidman is focused on getting the tall task ahead of him done when he meets Romero inside the Octagon next month, and it’s not going to be easy:
“I think I go out there and do my job, I’ll get the title shot,” Weidman said. “I’m focused on Romero.”
Weidman and Romero will meet on the main card of UFC 205 live on pay-per-view (PPV), from the Madison Square Garden arena in New York City on November 12, 2016.
