Five reasons Chris Weidman is the man to beat Anderson Silva
Posted on July 13, 2012, 12:09 PM by Evan Holober
Less than one week after the biggest fight of the year, and maybe all of MMA history, Chris Weidman burst on to the scene as the best possible option to face Anderson Silva. His transitions from striking to takedowns were flawless. His top game was both smothering and punishing at the same time. Most importantly, he was confident enough to stand in the pocket with a guy with a lot of power in Mark Munoz. Chris showed all the qualities an opponent will need to compete with Anderson. Here are 5 reasons why, if given the opportunity, he could end the best streak in MMA history:
Wrestling
The one quality any opponent taking on Anderson Silva must have is elite wrestling skills. Striking with Anderson is a losing proposition for anybody, so a game-plan that is heavy wrestling oriented is the best possible. Chris "The All-American" Weidman has one of the best backgrounds in the 185 lb division. A four-time All-American qualifier at 197 lbs in college (two at the JUCO level) who holds wins over a few UFC 205 lb fighters, Weidman went on to earn a third place finish in 2007 (finishing ahead of Ryan Bader and Phil Davis). He also competed on the national level as he is a Cadet Freestyle and Greco-Roman All-American.
Brazilian Jiu-jitsu
Although Anderson Silva has a black belt under the Nogueira's in BJJ, he has been submitted before in mixed-martial arts competition (even if it was some time ago). So a fighter containing a good ground game would be one step closer to solving the riddle that is "The Spider". Enter the phenom that is Chris Weidman when it comes to grappling. Chris was recruited by Gabriel Toribio to be the wreslting coach at Matt Serra's BJJ academy at the end of his collegiate career. He decided to take some classes while he was there, and three months later he had won the East coast Grappler's Quest event in both his weight class and the absolute division. A little over a year after that he won enough matches to be selected to compete in the Abu-Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling World Championship (ADCC). He made it to the second round at both 88 kg and the absolute division where he lost to Andre Galvao and Vinny Magalhaes, respectively. The Galvao match is especially memorable as he came within a couple points of winning. Let me put this in perspective, Andre Galvao is a multiple time ADCC champion at different weight classes while also taking gold seven times at the World Jiu-Jitsu championships (Mundials). Chris, with less than two years of BJJ training, almost beat him.
Size
Anderson Silva has held a size advantage on almost every single fighter he's gone up against in the UFC's middleweight division. Even guys like Yushin Okami and Chael Sonnen who can match Anderson's bulk couldn't match-up with the long limbs of the GOAT. Chris's size mirrors Anderson when it comes to both height and length (both stand at 6'2 while Weidman holds a slight advantage in reach), but its Chris's history of competing against bigger guys in wrestling that will give him even more confidence when entering the cage with Silva.
Transitions
In his first fight with Silva, Chael Sonnen put on a clinic for striking to takedown transitions. Anderson simply didn't know whether Chael was going to shoot or strike, and it gave "Shael" the most success anybody has had in close to a decade when facing the champ. Compare that to the display Weidman put on against Munoz, and you can't help but be impressed. At the 4:30 mark Chris throws a right head kick, backs up, and immediately shoots a pretty single leg takedown. He then spends the rest of the round switching from pressure, to striking, to looking for submission while always being in complete control.
Rapid improvement
In two years, Chris has not only become the best prospect in the 185 lb division (and in this writer's opinion all of MMA), but he's also turned into a top 5 ranked fighter. His growth is exemplified the most when you look at his perfectly timed elbow on a hard charging Mark Munoz. This is a guy who has made it clear his intentions are to grapple in MMA; he had the fortitude to hang in the pocket, slip a big overhand right, and finish the fight with a beautiful short elbow. The fact that he's just 3 years in to his MMA career is scary.
Comments
how bout next make 1 that is 50 reason chris weidman will lose!!!
How about just 1 reason he will lose, ANDERSON SILVA!
I don't understand why no body is giving Weidman a chance to even get a fight with A.S the guy just destroyed munoz he's a young guy and its not like there's 10 guys that are deserving of a title shot and A.S is not gunna be around for a long time he's confident he could compete with him give this guy a chance if he loses so the F what he lost to one of the greatest fighter of all time plus it would be a great experience for him
Wideman no win for Silva.Silva to strong fast Wideman no acheev take to mat. Wideman sleep or tap in 2st round sleepy sleepy Wideman ha! back to littel leeges with baby Sonan ha! no compete with Silva you sleep will fall on mat back for with days *facepolm* :-) =
5 reasons people should stop making stupid lists about how anderson silva is going to lose to...whoever they decide that week.
1) If you REALLY believed ANYTHING you said, you'd be broke and you wouldn't be posting here
2)We're all tired of having to point out how and why you're wrong everytime, and we lost count of how often.
3)You don't actually seem to research and analyze silvas REAL losses,They all come to guys he's expected to blow out of the water, his actual weakness is overconfidence.
4) 1 good performance doesn't make you an allstar. Henderson and sonnen were wrestlers on an olympic level
5) Bias these lists always show by saying that anderson silva has "bulk" for example. For christs sake okami's leg was almost as thick as andersons waist in their fight. WTF.
Oh, how did I miss this gem. Well, can't let stupidty go by without commenting:
1) That doesn't make sense. I believe everything I said, and I am no where close to broke. or BROKE in your mind.
2) You're tired of how I'm wrong everytime? Go ahead check back on the amount of times I've actually been wrong in Main event picks. It's under 30%. This would also be only the second fight since Rich Franklin 2 that I picked against Anderson ( I picked him in every fight from Cote - Okami, even Sonnen 1).
3) His losses were to guys who could beat him in the ground game. His near loss to Sonnen was to a guy who can beat him in the ground game. It has nothing to do with his overconfidence, as he verges on ****y for every fight he enters.
4) No, but multiple do (Maia, Munoz, Lawlor). Dan's wrestling ability at 185 faultered later in his career, as he was slammed by Palhares the fight right after Silva, and got outwrestled by Misaki his last fight at 185 before that (not even mentioning what Shields did to him).
5) Anderson Silva is one of the biggest 185 lbers in the UFC as he walks around at 215-225 in the off season, and is quite tall for the division. The term "bulk" carries many definitions. I was alluding to his great size in the division.
Well said my friend, well said.
Dream big
"you guy are wrong most of the time."
Check the articles of main event picks. I think I've missed 3 or 4 out of the last 20.
I weaked you too, everyone else was doing it.
weaked you ha! *facepolm*
Me too, I figure why not.
**** you Evan Holober
Shut up hippy.
Guess we all did.
"Nope"
Hype hype hype
I hate the fact that this kid is not getting the credit he deserves! he beat two top 5 mw. in munoz and damian at the time. just like you same idiots said jon jones was hype after he dismantled ryan bader. then he went on to smash shogun. trust this kid has already beat better guys than bisping and belchar.,...not to mention if weidman does not get the shot i would be just as satisfied to see belchar get one. bisping should get lombard if he wins.
I´ve got 1 reason Chris Weidman is not the man to beat Anderson Silva:
Anderson Silva.
P.S. Give the kid a chance to build a career...you don´t want him to get killed by Anderson and have him fade into oblivion.
Build a career? Anderson will retire at some point and it might be sooner than later. Wait for what, an injury? A chance would be to take the chance, by definition.
Or even worse than oblivion..he could drop to 170!
I think Weidman has the best chance to beat Silva but I don;t think he could handle the striking, his striking looked good Munoz but the jump from Munoz's striking to Anderson's is incredible.
Munoz was just having a bad night, on the wrong night.
Certainly, that is a possibility. Weidman made him look really terrible. Either he had a bad night, or Weidman is just that good. Time will tell.
This is the guy that will beat AS if they ever go at it....mark my words....to beat Andy you need a Demian Maia BJJ with Sonnens TDs....this is the closest to that out there.
Look at you being all logical, and stuff.
Well done sir.
Are you serious? Chris Weidman has Demian Maia's BJJ?
I always viewed Jacare and Paul Harris as the guys with the best chances, but Chris Wiedman just has that athletic quality that sets him apart from others. He's likely the next ruler of the MW division. After tomorrow many may throw Rockhold into that conversation as well.
Who is this "Paul Harris" you speak of?
I'm going to go ahead and assume you mean Rousimar Palhares...he tends to forget that strikes are legal while going for submissions, and I'm pretty sure Silva would capitalize on that. I seriously doubt he has the wrestling skills to get Silva to the ground...Silva would have such a ridiculous reach advantage that he would have no need to ever allow Palhares to close the distance.
I don't think Jacare has the wrestling or striking skills to get Silva to the ground. Silva would just dance around, land some shots and win a decision...or KTFO him.
I don't disagree. Paul Harris's and Jacare's most recent losses revealed what you just stated, to a degree. I just meant that it wasn't too long ago that the MW division seemed extremely shallow, and those guys stylistically stood out to me in terms of match-ups with Anderson.
Seriously dude who is PAUL HARRIS?
Throw another Steak on AS Dana might send you another "Friend"
If Weidman has a weight cut like he did against Maia with Silva then he will look like Forrest out there. Kids a great prospect but Anderson is Anderson.
I like Weidman, he is a good fighter, and he has risen fast--deservedly..
His striking has really improved--but that is the question mark with him, as it was with Sonnen. Weidman is already better than Sonnen in my books, since he has sick submissions to go along with expert wrestling. Weidman also has great takedowns, size, and the energy of youth.
Even a top striker would have trouble standing with Silva--and that is the question mark. I think if Weidman gets Silva down, he has more chance of submitting him than Sonnen.
When I look at Weidman, I get this feeling I am looking at the future MW champ--whether he beats Silva or not. There are not many logical choices for the next contender. Lombard if he wins in impressive fashion? Alan Belcher?
I think DW indicated he is going with Weidman or Lombard--depending how Lombard performs against Boestch. If Lombard looks good, Weidman should take on Alan Belcher. That would be a fight.
Weidman's official height is 6' (not 6' 2 like Silva):
http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Chris-Weidman-42804
Sherdog isn't official. They are a separate website.
Check UFC's official website stats.
The UFC and Sherdog certainly have their differences...
See Hunt, Loretta
Or Josh Gross, Greg Sherwood, and half the contributors that have worked for Sherdog. It used to be literally blacklisted.
ohhhh hell no...im not getting drawn into the media hype this time! lol
Anderson Silva will retire undefeated unless he moves up or age starts to catch up to him suddenly.
Anderson will retire undefeated?
I think mmagym meant undefeated in the UFC.
actually yes, thanks for pointing that out...my mistake! was on the way out to meet ppl.
Yeah don't get caught up in this nonsense especially if you read Brasil comment. Dude is a bonified bandwagon jumping buffoon.
Guest I don't believe there is a middle weight in the UFC who will beat Silva. At the end of the day he is the Middle weight champ and his job is to defend the title against the best the UFC has to offer. Lombard, Bisping, Weidman WHOEVER it doesn't matter, deep down we all know this. Silva has 3 fights left I'd rather they were against LHW but if not I'll be happy to see Silva end his UFC career just how he started it.
I must admit, Chris Weidman has a great set of skills necessary to beat the MW King. He has an elite wrestling background, decent striking skills, and a very solid ground game PLUS he's still young.
But we all know what happened to Silva's past challengers, they all said Franklin has a more well rounded game than Silva, Hendo's power will shatter Silva, Forrest's Size will nullify's Silva's reach, Belfort's hand speed can lead him to outstrike Silva. And many more.
I guess it's fun to play with facts and stats and all these, but at the end of the day. It all goes down to the fighter who can use all of these stats during the fight itself. The one who can actually utilize all the techniques he has to overpower his opponent. And not just possessing them but using them!
I must admit, Chris Weidman has a great set of skills necessary to beat the MW King. He has an elite wrestling background, decent striking skills, and a very solid ground game PLUS he's still young.
But we all know what happened to Silva's past challengers, they all said Franklin has a more well rounded game than Silva, Hendo's power will shatter Silva, Forrest's Size will nullify's Silva's reach, Belfort's hand speed can lead him to outstrike Silva. And many more.
I guess it's fun to play with facts and stats and all these, but at the end of the day. It all goes down to the fighter who can use all of these stats during the fight itself. The one who can actually utilize all the techniques he has to overpower his opponent. And not just possessing them but using them!
But still mad props to Chris Weidman. For making Mark Munoz look like his bitch on their fight. I mean Munoz is known to be a very good wrestler, top-notch wrestler if I may say. But he showed no signs of resistance against Weidman's TD's. Very scary dude.
And I hope someday he'll be at the top and soon be a champ. But I guess as long as Silva's around there'll be a very slim chance to any challengers.
cryptonite for silva is wrestling. everybody knows that...
when silva is on his back he is like a turned around turtle.
weidman has better wrestling than sonnen and he also has some power in those hands. and he seems pretty hungry and fearless to chase silva down to...
if weidman doesnt get the fight to the ground everybody knows what happens but if he does he might have a chance...
Hate, you are a stupid imbecile...read my comment again.... I never said he has Demians JJ.
So glad Munoz lost. Way overrated and many were touting him as a title challenger which would have been another joke of a MW title contest.
Isn't there always one of these type articles. I do think Weidman is the future champ, just not this soon. He's still improving and someone needs to be in their prime to beat Silva. But you never know.
Weidman would get eaten alive end of story