Tidigare mellanviktsmästaren Chris Weidman har haft det tufft den senaste tiden. Han bara vunnit en av sina senaste fem matcher – däribland en titelförlust mot Luke Rockhold på UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor.
Weidman har dessutom drabbats av skador och tvingats operera ryggen två gånger. Med detta i åtanke – och det faktum att han redan varit mästare i mellanvikt, gör nu att ”All American” byter viktklass.
“I’ve had two back-to-back surgeries, I’m coming off a loss. and I’m just like, my weight’s going kind of high.” sade Weidman i medierummet under UFC 238. “I’ve accomplished my goals at (185 pounds). I’ve had that belt wrapped around me four different times. I really wanted to get it back, and I’m not saying the door is totally shut on that idea. I’m not saying the door is totally shut on ’85, but the weight cuts are tough, and I kind of want to see what my body is like without depleting itself.
“I won’t be the biggest 205er, that’s definitely for sure. But I don’t think I’ll be the smallest. I think I bring things to the table that could be an issue for a lot of those guys.”
Ville besegra Jon Jones
När Weidman var mästare i mellanvikt var planen att försvara bältet ett par gånger, för att sedan gå upp till lätt tungvikt. Där hade Weidman siktet på att möta Jon Jones och var fast besluten att besegra mästaren och ta hem ytterligare en titel.
“I always wanted to go up to 205,” sade Weidman. “The goal, when everything was good when I was undefeated and champion of the world. The goal was to defend my belt a few times at ’85, move up to 205 and beat Jon Jones. That was always the goal, then things changed. You have to reevaluate your goals, and now I’m going up to 205.”
