Chris Weidman: Being Bullied As A Kid Made Me Who I Am Today
UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman shocked the world when he dethroned longtime king Anderson Silva at July’s UFC 162. He’s quickly rose to prominence as an undefeated titleholder in what has become one of the most talented divisions in all of MMA.
He’s not flashy or arrogant so it’s easy to wonder where he gets his iron-willed toughness. A lot of that comes from his wrestling background, but Weidman told Bobby Razak that his fighting spirit began long before he hit the mat:
“I grew up getting bullied and fighting a lot. My brother was probably one of the toughest kids from my neighborhood and he didn’t make it easy on me. He made sure I was getting beat up as much as possible growing up. If he wasn’t beating me up, he was making his friends beat me up. He threw a 10-pound weight on my head because I wouldn’t get him a cookie. Split my forehead open pretty good.”
“Those are just a few memories of what I’ve been through in my life, things I’ve had to get through. I think any type of setback you have, any tough time you’ve got, getting through it is what makes you who you are. It makes you a tougher person. I think whatever you’ve been through in your life makes you a tougher person. I’m very grateful for the background I have, every tough situation I’ve been through because it’s made me who I am.”
The interview provides a good insight as to why Weidman has prevailed in a fighter. It sounds like he had no choice but to fight back. However, he hasn’t really needed to thus far in his UFC career, instead doing all the bullying as he beats his foes into submission.
He’ll fight the biggest fight of his career when he rematches Silva at next Saturday’s UFC 168, and he knows he needs a win to solidify his title reign. If he can get past the favored “Spider” once again, Weidman will be met with a murderer’s row of powerhouse middleweights in Vitor Belfort, “Jacare” Souza, and Lyoto Machida. What will 2014 hold for “The All-American?”
