Dana White hopes Chris Weidman will retire after losing at UFC 292.
On Saturday night, Weidman ended his two-and-a-half-year layoff due to a horrifying leg injury suffered against Uriah Hall at UFC 261. The former UFC middleweight champion was matched up against Brad Tavares for his return fight, and things didn’t go as planned.
Weidman showcased his heart and determination at UFC but ultimately came up short. Tavares’ leg kicks were the difference-maker, leading to a unanimous decision win against ‘The All-American.’
During the UFC 292 post-event press conference, Dana White had this to say when asked what Weidman should do next:
“Retire. I love Chris Weidman. I love him. I love his family, and I think he should retire. We talked to Doc D. Doc D thinks he blew his MCL, ACL? He blew one of the CLs. Guy is just coming back from a gruesome injury. Listen, man, father time is not our friend at all, but definitely, if you’re a professional athlete it’s.”
In December 2015, Weidman was dethroned of the UFC middleweight title with a fourth-round TKO loss against Luke Rockhold. Since then, the New York native has lost six of his last eight UFC fights, including his latest Octagon appearance against Tavares. It’s unclear if ‘The All-American’ plans to pursue another fight.
Dana White reveals what he will say if Chris Weidman asks for another fight
Before losing at UFC 292, Chris Weidman mentioned he still maintains championship aspirations in the UFC. Therefore, Weidman may not be looking to retire without at least one more Octagon appearance.
During the UFC 292 post-event press conference, Dana White was asked what he would say if ‘The All-American’ asked for another fight. White responded by saying:
“First of all, depending on the damage to the knee, you’re talking another year. I would say, Chris, I love you, please, please retire.”
Regardless of what’s next, Chris Weidman will leave behind a historic legacy in the Octagon. In 2013, Anderson Silva was considered unbeatable before Weidman defeated him in back-to-back fights for the UFC middleweight title. ‘The All-American’ also added several other impressive names to his resume, including Vitor Belfort, Lyoto Machida, and Kelvin Gastelum.
