New UFC Middleweight Champ Weidman says rematch with Silva in the works

The sweat hadn’t even dried following Chris Weidman’s historic knockout victory over former UFC middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva at UFC 162 when talks of a rematch between the two octagon warriors had already begun to swirl.

After all, it only made sense that the greatest champion the sport of mixed martial arts had ever known be granted an immediate rematch after holding the belt for more than seven years. Weidman, to his credit, had stated he would be more than willing to grant Silva a shot at the belt and UFC President Dana White said it was the only fight to make following the historic main event.

Everyone seemed in agreement that it was only a matter of time before the fight was made. Everyone, that is except for the one man they needed to make it official. Immediately after seeing his old belt being strapped to the Weidman’s waist, the Brazilian striker declared his days of title fights were over.

“I [don’t’] fight more for the belt,” Silva said to the crowd of more than 20,000 in attendance at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. “My legacy for the belt is finished tonight.”

White seemed to take Silva’s declaration of no more title fights with a grain of salt.

“It’s been a long time since this guy has lost a fight and I’m sure he forgets what it feels like,” said White. “But regardless of what he says, I guarantee you there’s nothing he wants more than that rematch with Chris Weidman.”

Silva himself would later change his tune at the post fight press conference when the media continued to press him for more information regarding his future plans.

“Maybe in three or four months, I’ll think about what I’m going to do,” said Silva through a translator. “But right now, I can’t really think about that. I just want to take some time off, go off and think about things. There’s a lot of pressure with defending this title and I defended it for a long time so I need some time for myself.”

But with reports coming out of Silva changing his tune about squaring off against the Long Island wrestler, the fight world became abuzz about the biggest fight in UFC history finally coming to fruition.

While no date has been set, Weidman told the Jim Rome Show on Wednesday he sees the rematch happening sometime at end of 2013 or early 2014.

“We’re having a rematch December or February not sure when yet,” said Weidman to the show’s host. “I think it be one of the greatest fights, one of the biggest fights of all time.”

Weidman went on to mimic White’s earlier statements about Silva’s seeking a rematch regardless of post fight comments about taking time off.

“He wants it,” Weidman said about Silva’s desire for a rematch. “That’s right after his bell’s been rung and I’m sure it was surreal for him. He just lost for the first time in seven years, he got knocked out, and that’s something he has a lot of pride in is his stand up and having a good chin. His mind wasn’t in the right place when he’s doing an interview. We’re doing a rematch.”

If the UFC does manage to book the rematch it will most likely be scheduled for UFC 168 in Las Vegas on December 28 or during the annual Super Bowl weekend fight card show planned for February 1 in New Jersey.

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