Weidman cleared to compete, ready for spot at Manchester, MSG shows
With a clean bill of health for the first time all year, Chris Weidman wants to reclaim his position in the middleweight division.
Weidman underwent neck surgery in June that removed him from a scheduled rematch with Luke Rockhold at UFC 199. Making that pill even more bitter, Michael Bisping would step in to take Weidman's place and go on to win the 185-pound title with a shocking first-round knockout of Rockhold.
That leaves Weidman with plenty of business to settle now that he's ready to compete again. On Friday, he told "MMAjunkie Radio" that he envisions a scenario where takes care of both Rockhold and Bisping before the year is through.
"I've been healthy for the past four weeks," Weidman said, according to Matt Erickson of MMAjunkie. "I got completely cleared by the doctor, the surgeon who did the work. So I'll be ready for UFC 205 easy. I'll even be ready if someone drops out of that England fight (at UFC 204), I’ll jump in there. And then I'll fight a month later in New York if I have to. Actually, I would love to. That would be awesome. That would be the best-case scenario.
"If it was Dan Henderson who got injured, I'd definitely jump in there to fight Bisping, and I'm pretty sure I could get out of there unscathed. Obviously, I'd take it very seriously and try not to get 'Rockholded.' But I have a feeling I'd get out of there without getting beaten up, and then I have to fight at MSG. I have to be at the first event in New York. I'd love to fight a month later."
Neck issues have kept Weidman out of action since last December, when he dropped the UFC middleweight championship to Rockhold. It was the first loss of his career, and it broke his streak of three consecutive title defenses.
Weidman still sees a rematch with Rockhold in his future, though he's aware that there are several intriguing fights in his division. As long as it takes place in his home state of New York, he'll be satisfied.
"I thought it was going to be Luke Rockhold, but I guess that's not going to happen," Weidman said. "You've got Yoel Romero, (Ronaldo) 'Jacare' Souza … Anderson Silva would be a stretch. I would want Luke Rockhold in a rematch in Madison Square Garden, but I don't think that's going to happen.
"On Twitter, I'm seeing people wanting to see me versus Yoel. I'll take whatever fight. I've got to be a little selfish since this is the first event in New York. Whatever the biggest fight is, I'll take it. That's what I want."