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Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman recently made a return to active combat sports competition.
Weidman has been out of action since a freak injury slapped his leg in half, leading to a first-round TKO loss against Uriah Hall at UFC 261 in April 2021. The former champ recently returned to active competition, taking on Owen Livesey in a special attraction grappling match at Polaris 23.
While Weidman dropped a decision against Livesey, the former champ was simply overjoyed to be back on the mat. The 38-year-old tried hard to hold back his tears as he thanked his friends and family in his post-fight interview. Weidman said:
“These last two years have been the hardest years of my life. I don’t want to cry, I’m not going to cry, but I don’t know if you know this, but I snapped my leg in half in April 2021, and I wasn’t sure I was ever going to be able to compete again in anything, and so to able to come out here and put a show for you guys, win or lose, is truly a dream."
While it isn't exactly the same as a return to MMA, Chris Weidman believes his grappling match against Owen Livesey was a good way to shake off the ring rust. Eventually eyeing a return to the UFC, Weidman believes few fighters will be stronger than the former Commonwealth games gold medalist that he just took on. The 38-year-old added:
"So the nerves, the fight week, it’s very similar to this so it was a great way to jump into a fight, getting this under my belt and going against a guy like him. There’s nobody in the UFC that’s going to be stronger than Owen Livesey."
Fans react Chris Weidman's return to combat sports
Chris Weidman was unbeaten in his first nine UFC outings, which included two title wins over Anderson Silva. In an eerie co-incidence, Silva suffered a freak injury in the first fight almost identical to the one suffered by Weidman years later against Uriah Hall.
Fans showered respect for Weidman as the former champ finally returned to competition at Polaris 23.
Catch fans' reactions below:
