If you want to hear a fascinating Chris Weidman story, you have to go to Ray Longo. Weidman himself doesn’t like to boast about his past accomplishments, especially before his leg injury on live TV. Back in those days, when he was new to the scene, he was a force to be reckoned with in the New York and New Jersey MMA circuit.
Longo, his longtime coach, recalls how Weidman would clear out a room in the gym, tapping out seasoned fighters with ease. Even when he was still a novice in jiu-jitsu, he managed to choke out a top black belt in just 30 seconds, stunning everyone in the gym.
Weidman’s rise to success was swift, winning all his fights in Ring of Combat before getting the call from the UFC. Longo had no doubt that Weidman would become a champion one day, and his prediction came true when he defeated Anderson Silva to become the UFC middleweight champ.
However, the brutal nature of the sport caught up with Weidman, leading to multiple surgeries and a devastating leg injury similar to Silva’s. Now, at 39 years old and with 30 surgeries under his belt, Weidman returns to Atlantic City for a fight, possibly his last.
Despite considering retirement after his last fight, Weidman couldn’t resist the opportunity to fight in Atlantic City once more. The upcoming bout against Bruno Silva may be his final chance to leave his mark on the sport that has defined his life.
Chris Weidman’s Battle with Pain and Motivation
Chris Weidman had two main concerns that were deeply intertwined: pain and motivation.
“And really, my motivation has never been a problem,” Weidman said. “But what kills my motivation is the pain. If I’m in pain the whole time I’m training, it’s just miserable. That’s the only motivation killer I have. It’s not like I’m not really loving this anymore. I love going to the gym. I love training. But when I have pain, it’s a problem.”
Recently, he faced a moment during training when his knee pain was so severe that he couldn’t even move to one side while working mitts with Longo, his coach.
“[Longo] was looking at me like, you’re joking, you can’t circle?” Weidman recounted. “That’s when he was like, ‘What are you doing? You’re out of your mind.’”
Although Longo suggested retirement during a podcast appearance, he did so out of concern for Weidman’s well-being, as the pain and injuries were taking a toll on him.
After trying various all-natural supplements, Weidman eventually found a solution that alleviated his pain. He no longer had to rely on Advil and sheer determination to get through his training sessions. This newfound relief allowed him to revisit his decision on retirement and focus on preparing for his upcoming fight in Atlantic City.
“I was very open to the idea of it being over,” Weidman admitted. “But it’s not so much about proving it to other people or becoming a champion again. It’s more about being the best version of myself and showing what I know I can do inside that cage. I haven’t been able to do that in a while, and that’s what motivates me now.”
While Weidman acknowledges that his fighting career will come to an end sooner rather than later, he is determined to make the most of the time he has left in the sport. He wants to ensure that he leaves no regrets behind and savors every moment in the cage, especially the exhilarating experience of hearing the crowd’s roar in Atlantic City.