Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman looks set for another fight close to home later this year when the promotion returns to Madison Square Garden.
Weidman has gone 1-1 since making his comeback from a devastating leg break in 2023, most recently getting the better of Bruno Silva via a controversial TKO stoppage in the third round at the UFC Fight Night in Atlantic City, New Jersey, this past March.
The New York native, who has not won consecutive fights since having his undefeated record blemished and title reign ended by Luke Rockhold in 2015, will look to make it two from two in 2024 in his home state.
Iridium Sports Agency recently revealed on social media that one of its clients, former American football linebacker-turned-UFC middleweight Eryk Anders, is set to share the cage with Weidman on November 16.
While unconfirmed, that date is expected to mark the organization’s return to Madison Square Garden for UFC 309.
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Weidman Targets First Win Streak Since 2015 At Anders’ Expense
When they collide, Anders will be looking to stall the potential resurgence of an all-time great of the middleweight division.
Weidman (16-7) achieved title glory as an unbeaten fighter back in 2013, memorably knocking out the previously invincible Anderson Silva at UFC 162. After three successful defenses against Silva, Lyoto Machida, and Vitor Belfort, the Baldwin native was unseated by Rockhold in a Fight of the Night war.
The former champ has won just three of his nine fights since, a disappointing run that includes knockout losses to Gegard Mousasi, Ronaldo Souza, and Dominick Reyes, as well as a gruesome broken leg opposite Uriah Hall in 2021. After falling short in his return bout against Brad Tavares last August, Weidman got back into the winner’s circle this year.
But with that result over Silva coming in controversial fashion after a slew of eye pokes, Weidman will be targeting a definitive triumph when he meets Anders (16-8, 1 NC). “Ya Boi” has struggled with inconsistency after Machida handed him his first loss in a 2018 main event, going 6-7 with one no contest since.
The ex-NFL athlete most recently bounced back from a defeat to Marc-André Barriault in 2023 by outpointing Jamie Pickett this past March. He’ll now look to get the better of Weidman to secure his first string of victories since a double in 2019.
