Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA Today Sports
A historic moment was made at UFC 168, when Chris Weidman was able to defeat Anderson Silva for the second straight time. For the rematch, Weidman worked extensively on checking the leg kicks, something he failed to really do in the first fight with Silva. Well this paid off in dividends, as Weidman was able to check a kick, which broke Silva’s left leg in brutal fashion.
It was one of the most ghastliest leg breaks ever seen in the UFC, something reminiscent of when Corey Hill broke his leg when he fought Dale Hartt. Even though Weidman won in a controversial way, he should still be given the respect a champion deserves. He’s the only fighter to beat the greatest of all time in Silva, not once, but twice. That alone makes Weidman an all-time great, and it’s time he got the respect he has rightfully earned.
It’s not like Weidman was losing any part of the rematch. He dominated Silva in the first, rocking Silva and almost finishing the fight. He also spent a majority of the fight on top of Silva, smashing him with some brutal elbows. It’s not Weidman’s fault that he checked Silva’s kick perfectly, causing him to break his leg.
This is just technique and flawless reflexes that allowed him to do something like this, and hopefully the MMA community will recognize the type of true skills that Weidman possesses as a young champion. He’s only getting better with every fight, and he’s going to be a true force in the middleweight division.
Jeremy Green is a MMA and NFL contributor at RantSports. You can follow him on Facebook, Twitter, or Google Plus.
