Former UFC champion Chris Weidman recently shared insights on how his boxing bout against Anderson Silva came together. Both men are former UFC rivals, and now they are adding a new chapter to their rivalry in the ring.
Weidman and Silva first fought at UFC 162 in 2013. The American shocked the MMA world. by knocking out ‘The Spider’ to capture the UFC middleweight championship. The victory ended the Brazilian’s legendary title reign.
Their UFC 168 rematch also ended in dramatic fashion, with Silva suffering a TKO loss after breaking his leg.
Now, Silva and Weidman will face off in a boxing match on the undercard of the Jake Paul vs. Gervonta Davis event. The event will take place on Nov. 14 and stream live on Netflix.
During their appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Weidman explained how long the boxing bout came to be. ‘The All-American’ revealed that he was first offered the bout while still actively competing in the UFC. Talks had stalled, but they recently picked up again, and fighting on the Netflix card became an exciting opportunity.
“I got a call from his manager again asking if I was interested in fighting Anderson, and she said there’s a chance of fighting on this Netflix card with Jake Paul and Gervonta Davis,” Weidman said. “I was like, ‘Let’s do it, it would be fun.’ There’s not too many people that I would really be interested in fighting other than Anderson.”
Weidman also expressed his respect for Silva, highlighting their shared history.
“We have a good history. I have a lot of respect for him,” Weidman said. “He’s under-appreciated as a boxer, so I think it’s an awesome challenge. That’s what I’d love to do is compete against the best guys.”
Anderson Silva Excited About Fighting Chris Weidman in Boxing
Anderson Silva also shared his thoughts on fighting Chris Weidman in a boxing ring. He expressed excitement about their upcoming trilogy and believes it will be an exciting fight for fans to enjoy.
Silva, 50, has been actively competing in boxing bout since retiring from MMA. He revealed that he spoke with Paul’s manager, Nakisa Bidarian, and immediately accepted a fight with Weidman.
“I talked to Nakisa [Bidarian] and Nakisa said, ‘Oh, I try to make [a] good fight that makes sense for the sport, you versus Weidman,’ Silva said. “It’s a good challenge for us, especially to show the respect for boxing. Chris and I can do [a] good fight for the fans, for Netflix, and this is very good for us. It’s amazing.”
Silva Respects Boxing
Silva opened up about his deep respect for the sport of boxing and the competitors who dedicate themselves to it. He acknowledged how difficult boxing is, especially after his experience with MMA.
Silva emphasized his dedication to training as he prepares for his fight with Weidman.
“I need to respect the boxing community because it’s not for everybody. It’s not easy to come inside the ring and doing the same [thing] you do in MMA,” Silva told The Ariel Helwani Show. “I need to prove my respect for [the] boxing community. I’m training hard every day, I train with the best guys, and I go do my best.”
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