Weidman: Losing is not even a thought

UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman (10-0 MMA, 6-0 UFC) was recently interviewed by mmamania.com, where he discussed how his life has changed since dethroning Anderson “The Spider” Silva (33-5 MMA, 16-1 UFC) at July’s UFC 162 event in Las Vegas.

Following his title-winning effort at UFC 162, Weidman has since purchased a new home, this to replace his old house which was hit by Hurricane Sandy:

“I guess it’s changed a decent amount, I’m definitely recognized more. I’m able to get out of the house that got hit by Hurricane Sandy. I’m able to buy a new house in Long Island, but I’m leaving the South Shore, which is hard for me. It’s going to be nice to be organized. We were kind of clustered up in there and cluttered. It’s going to be nice to have a house where I have room and space to put stuff.”

As for staying grounded, Weidman said that it is his family who keeps him from being swallowed by the new-found fame, money and attention:

“They won’t let me become a big-headed guy, who thinks who he is. I just have a lot of people around there that have been there since the beginning. They know who I really am and if they saw me changing they would put me in my place.”

Weidman, was of course a heavy underdog heading into his UFC 162 showdown opposite “The Spider.” On top of that, he had a one-year layoff, had back-to-back surgeries and his house was severely damaged by Hurricane Sandy. Despite all of that, Chris still managed to knockout arguably the greatest MMA fighter of all time:

“There were a lot of things going on behind the scenes, I just know I’m going to be in a lot better place for this next fight.”

Many Silva supporters feel that the former champion will turn in a much better performance in the rematch, but that doesn’t concern Weidman:

“I know people are saying ‘the angry Anderson Silva, the serious Anderson Silva is going to be coming out.’ If you think that intimidates me or it makes me second guess myself at all, that’s just not where my mind is at.”

“I have a lot I know I haven’t shown in a fight yet. I have a lot of things I do in the gym that I’m still working on to gain the confidence to do in the ring and for this fight. There could be a lot of new things you see.. I think for sure you haven’t seen the best Chris Weidman.”

Weidman was asked what version of “The Spider” he expects to see at UFC 168 this December:

“He has had so many fights at this point, ever time he is in there I think he is as creative as you can be. He is very relaxed. I expect the unexpected. Every time I have fought, I’m not too worried about what there doing. I’m worried about what I’m doing. So, honestly it doesn’t matter.”

“Anderson has been in the game so much longer than me, he has accomplished so much more than I have. He’s done a lot great things for the sport and for the UFC. So he deserves that kind of respect where people can’t believe that he actually lost the first time and they aren’t going to believe that he lost a second time.”

But what if it is Weidman who loses the rematch?

“Yeah, I’m not losing,” said Weidman. “So that’s not even a thought.”

Who do you see leaving UFC 168 with the middleweight title this December? Let’s hear it Penn Nation!