Chris Weidman opens up on battle with COVID-19: “I ended up losing 12 pounds”

Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman has opened up on his battle with COVID-19, and it does not sound fun.

Weidman had been expected to rematch fellow middleweight contender Uriah Hall at UFC 258 next weekend, but was unfortunately forced out of the fight when he tested positive for COVID-19. The matchup has been rescheduled April 24, and it sounds like the new date was very necessary.

“First couple of days definitely sucked pretty bad,” Weidman told Submission Radio. “For about three days I had a fever, body aches, bad headache, and it just kind of sucked. And then after that, I just kind of felt tired. I would get these headaches randomly. Yeah, so I had to take about two weeks off training, and now I feel good and getting back in shape. But I guess taking two weeks off my proper training, even if I came back with no lingering effects, it’s just not the best timing for the fight. So, I didn’t expect to get my fight pushed back until April, I expected maybe a couple of weeks. But hopefully it’s a huge pay-per-view and a big opportunity, a big platform to be able to showcase my skills and make a big statement.

“I also lost 12 pounds. I was eating soups and stuff. My appetite wasn’t that great and I ended up losing 12 pounds throughout the process. Which, I was like, wow, my weight cut is not gonna be as bad, I really got my weight low.”

Weidman didn’t initially think he’d need that much time off to recover from COVID-19, but after speaking with experts, now realizes an extended break is probably crucial.

“[it happened] a couple of weeks ago. I tried, I thought I was gonna be able to fight, and then it really wasn’t an option,” Weidman said. “I’m good now, but it definitely took a little bit of an effect on me. There’s just so many question marks. Like, lingering effects. I went on antibiotics and I took the Medrol Pak. I wanted to make sure I didn’t have any long-term lung issues. That was one of the scariest that I’ve heard a couple of times.

“And what I was being told by doctors is, do not work out while you have it,” Weidman added. “Even if you start feeling good, because your body’s still fighting it. I was told that that’s kind of why people are getting these lingering effects, because they’re pushing a little bit too early. I know a few people now, even some of the athletes who are still coughing and still having lung issues after a year ago. Some guys who I know had it a year ago – well, one person I know had it last January – who still has lung issues. Very young and athletic and healthy person, but just kept training through it, and now still has some lung issues. And I know another person who’s coughing and stuff and had it a couple of months ago, another athlete. So, I feel good and I don’t feel like I have lingering effects because I really rested and made sure to do the right things.”

How do you think Chris Weidman will look in his next fight?