Chris Weidman

Chris Weidman has repeatedly said he still has what it takes to make another title shot run. But, as he gets set to fight Omari Akhmedov, Weidman could be in a must-win situation, and it sounds like he knows it.

Chris Weidman

Weidman knows he needs a “freaking win”

The former middleweight champ is booked to face Akhmedov at UFC Vegas 6 on Saturday, which is taking place the Apex Facility in Las Vegas. 

The bout will mark the first time Weidman (14-5) has fought since October, when he moved to up light-heavyweight and was taken out by Dominick Reyes. That fight followed a KO loss to “Jacare” Souza in 2018.

The 36-year-old, New York fighter has gone just 1-5 now since he finished Vitor Belfort in 2015. As a result, Weidman really, really needs to get back in the win column, and the star knows it (quotes via MMA Fighting).

“I need to get a freaking ‘W,” Weidman said. “I need to get back on my winning ways. I think I have a lot of advantages in this fight but when you’re in there, you never know what’s going to happen.

“I’m taking it very serious. He’s tough but when I look at the guys I’ve fought, I don’t think he’s up there as far as the most talented. I think that’s a fair statement without knocking him.”

And while talking about his recent 1-5 slide specifically, the decorated wrestler said this.

“It’s a very tough sport. It’s a fickle sport. The fans are definitely tough. But it’s also kind of motivating. You want to remind them. I’m 1-5 in my last six fights.

But you look at who I fought and then one person I beat [Kelvin Gastelum] and he’s done pretty good himself. In all those fights, other than my [Dominick] Reyes fight, I was winning the fight.

It’s just kind of the way it works sometimes.

“You fight all these really good guys, you’re not always going to get your hand raised. There’s definitely randomness who wins that night.

Random things that happen. It doesn’t necessarily mean that person is the better person in the fight.”

How bad does Weidman need a win?

So, how badly does Weidman need a victory? In terms of his UFC and or MMA future?

It’s hard to imagine the UFC letting Weidman go, considering what he’s accomplished during his career. After all, he is the man who ended the storied reign of Anderson Silva. 

In other words, if Weidman loses, and loses badly, then it could be a situation where Dana White calls on him to retire. Rather than releasing the star.

It’s certainly true that Weidman hasn’t been losing to just ordinary, run-of-the-mill fighters. His defeats have come against top-tier talent.

But, he has been finished in five of his last six fights, and another stoppage loss will likely spike calls for him to retire.

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