Chris Weidman's (9-0 MMA 5-0 UFC) lobbying for a middleweight title match with Anderson Silva (33-4 MMA 16-0 UFC) has finally paid off as the spider has agreed to face him at UFC 162 on the 6th July in Las Vegas.
Weidman was told by UFC chairman and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta that his request to challenge Silva has finally been accepted. Weidman described the announcement as a "Dream come true" stating that "Ever since I've been fighting, Anderson Silva has been the champion and I've been visualizing beating him. Now I have the opportunity. I have to make the most of it."
Weidman 28 has a perfect 9-0 record and last fought in July 2012 when he knocked out Mark Munoz. Since this win he has done everything he can to get the shot at Anderson Silva, but late last year his shot looked to have slipped his grasp. So he accepted a fight with Tim Boetsch at UFC 155 before ultimately pulling out with a shoulder injury which required surgery. Weidman is now 100% and cleared to start training for the biggest fight of his career.
Anderson Silva, ranked by most as the pound for pound best MMA fighter of all time has never lost in the octagon with a record 16 consecuctive wins in the UFC. The Spider has held the middleweight belt since defeating Rich Franklin in October 2006.
Only once has Silva looked set for defeat in the UFC in his first battle with Chael Sonnen, before pulling out a submission victory in the 5th round. With Weidmans skills as a Division 1 wrestler as well as his powerful strikes could this be Silva's toughest test yet... only time will tell.
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