UFC’s final event of 2013 certainly taught us a lot about some of the big names in the organization. Travis Browne looks like the next heavyweight contender. Meisha Tate is a big fan of Katy Perry. Diego Brandao needs to eat fewer donuts.
However, the biggest takeaway from the showcase, at least for me, was the fact that Chris Weidman is absolutely, unequivocally, a true champion. If Anderson Silva’s career really is over after suffering a gruesome broken leg that bears a recovery time of between three and six months, the UFC’s middleweight division is in good hands with ‘The All-American” as the title holder.
Weidman has heard doubters throughout his career as a fighter. He wasn’t supposed to beat Silva in their first matchup, his first victory was a fluke because of a lucky punch, et cetera, et cetera. UFC 168 was billed under the slogan, “Leave no doubt.” It was supposed to be a chance to find out once and for all whether Weidman was truly the best 185-pound fighter in the world. A win was supposed to validate his status at the top of the UFC’s food chain.
Well, the 29-year old Weidman got the win, but, unfortunately for him, Silva’s injury overshadowed his triumph. Now, even on the off chance that Spider does fight again, he’ll probably never be the Anderson Silva that fight fans remember, the one that seemed, during his 16-fight UFC win streak, as unbeatable as the Dream Team.
It’s a testament to how great Silva was for so long that many gave him the benefit of the doubt after his first defeat at Weidman’s hands. The fact that he was still a 3-2 favorite heading into the rematch on Saturday shows that even experts believed that less clowning and a more a serious approach from Silva would surely be enough for him to regain the belt. It didn’t turn out that way; not by a long shot.
Silva played the second fight against Weidman completely straight; there was no feigning of injuries or any other such gamesmanship, but it didn’t propel him to victory. In the first round, Weidman attacked and hurt Silva with a strong right to the challenger’s head. All-American then took Silva down and rained a barrage of punches on him that almost (and some would say, should have) ended the fight.
In short, Weidman thoroughly outfought Silva before the leg injury. In addition, the broken leg itself was no accident, but the result of a move, known as the “Destruction” by his trainers, that Weidman had practiced in order to defend himself from Silva’s leg kicks. He obviously didn’t think or hope it would break Silva’s leg, but it was a planned move to stop the Brazilian from using the kicks that had been so effective in their first fight.
Those still wishing to doubt the champion’s credibility will overlook these realities. As an impartial observer, I refuse to do any such thing. The fact is that the New York native has now beaten one of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters in the UFC twice in a row. The old adage in the organization is that you’re not really the champion until you defend your title. Weidman did that and it’s time to give him the respect he’s due.
Yes, Silva’s injury is awful and devastating and any other word you want to use to describe it, but it should not take away from Weidman’s accomplishment. He is a better fighter than Silva, period. He’s earned his belt and, if I were a betting man, I would say that fans should be prepared to see the former All-American wrestler at the top of the division for a long time. Bring on Vitor Belfort.
Dylan Sinn is a freelance contributor for CraveOnline Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSinn or “like” CraveOnline Sports on Facebook.
Photo Credit: Getty
