Longo: Weidman Will Crush Machida’s Weak Chin

As UFC 175: Weidman vs. Machida is quickly approaching, Ray Longo expressed his confidence in his prize pupil Chris Weidman. Longo joined Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour to talk about the fight.

“I got total confidence in Chris no matter who you put in front of him. I think it’s pretty obvious Belfort is more aggressive. Machida is more laid back and tries to counter punch, but he’ll adjust to either guy. So we planned everything around a counter fighter. He’s the champion and he’s going to beat everyone they put in front of him, that’s the way you have to be when your champion.”
He continues:

“I think Weidman is going to do what he always does. He’s going to get in that ring, he’s going to go forward and he’s going to impose his will on Machida. He is going to make Machida fight his game and he is going to probably just end up crushing the guy. Crushing means there is a good chance he’ll dump him on his head and does what he wants with him.”

Machida, the former training partner and friend of Anderson Silva has a style much similar to The Spider, who Weidman has defeated twice. The elite level counter-striking that confuses Machida’s opponents won’t prove to be a problem for the champ according to Longo.

“I think he’s got a real weak chin. That’s his weakest hole. Weidman hits that guy, he’ll hurt him bad. That’s why he likes to control the pace of the fight. I don’t think he likes to be pushed.”