UFC's Chris Weidman not yet ready to retire

Chris Weidman was healing his body in South Carolina, coaching his sons to state youth wrestling titles, raising his family with his wife, Marivi, getting his new supplements venture started and co-hosting UFC weigh-in shows.

Returning to the octagon wasn’t top of mind for the former UFC middleweight champion from Baldwin. Until he heard about a UFC fight card in Atlantic City.

“First thing was like, man, that would be a good place to hang up the gloves. It's where I started my career,” Weidman told Newsday. “Go out there, win or lose, put down the gloves. That'd be a cool little send-off.”

It would bookend a 15-year career in mixed martial arts that saw Weidman go from a prospect living in his parents’ basement to becoming a four-time champion with a prominent spot in the sport’s history books.

It would -- if he was ready to do bring an end to that career.

“I feel too good to do that,” Weidman said. “A part of me is like I wish I could do that, but I feel too good. But we’ll see how I feel in there.”

Weidman (15-7) will face Brazilian striker Bruno Silva (23-10) on the main card at UFC Atlantic City at Boardwalk Hall on Saturday night. The main card, headlined by Erin Blanchfield vs. Manon Fiorot will air on ESPN and stream on ESPN+.

This will be Weidman’s second fight since a devastating right leg injury suffered during a fight in April of 2021. That injury saw a bone in his lower leg rip through his calf muscle and protrude the skin. It led to five follow-up surgeries over two years, a physical and mental ordeal that eventually saw Weidman make it through to return to the octagon last August. He lost by unanimous decision to Brad Tavares in a bout where he took enough kicks to his left leg – “my good leg,” Weidman called it – to fracture it.

Silva isn’t known for his leg kicks, with 18 of his 20 knockouts coming via punches.

“He does things different, so that’s what’s dangerous,” Weidman said of his opponent. “He’s got heavy hands. He does kick, but not much. But I’m prepared for him to kick like crazy after watching my last two fights.”

Both Weidman and Silva have lost their last two fights and are 1-4 in the last five.

Weidman has done all of his work for this fight at Gym-O in North Carolina, with former Garden City High School wrestler Tom Lane among his training partners. Longtime trainer Ray Longo still will be in Weidman’s corner on fight night, as will Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson and Jeff Jimmo.

“I’m really there to support him at this point,” Longo said. “I know the way the guy fights, I know what he could do. I mean, that's easy. Once you watch a guy for 12 years . . . I trained the guy forever.”

Weidman said multiple times how good his body has felt during training camp. No small accomplishment for any MMA fighter, with this sport’s grueling workouts, let alone a near 40-year-old with more surgeries (30-plus) on his resume than pro fights (22). Weidman credited some of those feel-good vibes to his new Trinity Gold Nutrition supplement company he started.

“I'm really looking forward to having some fun, man,” Weidman said about this fight. “Going back to the old Weidman, just walk forward and bring it to this guy and see what’s he got.”

By Mark La Monica

mark.lamonica@newsday.comLaMonicaMark

Mark La Monica is a deputy sports editor at Newsday. He also covers mixed martial arts.