Former Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight champ Chris Weidman is not ready to call it quits just yet.
Weidman (15-7) will be returning to action on March 30 at the unnumbered UFC on ESPN event in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The former kingpin of 185 pounds will battle it out against Bruno Silva (23-10) at middleweight inside of the Boardwalk Hall. News of this pairing first came from Brazilian journalist Laerte Viana, and Sherdog has confirmed from sources close to the situation that the fight is currently in the works. Both men have verbally agreed to the bout, and they are awaiting contracts from the promotion.
This will be Weidman’s second appearance in the Octagon since a gruesome leg injury suffered against Uriah Hall in April 2021. “The All-American” took over two years off to recoup from his broken leg, and he returned at UFC 292 to face perennial contender Brad Tavares. Weidman, 39, lost a decision and endured a whopping 41 leg kicks from his foe to reach the final horn. While Weidman started his career at 13-0 while racking up three title defenses, he has since won twice while losing seven outings.
“Blindado” Silva has also struggled as of late, victor of just one in his last five. That win came over Tavares in April 2023, and he has since dropped two in a row to Brendan Allen and Sharabutdin Magomedov. The burly brawler burst onto the scene in 2021 by laying waste to Wellington Turman, Andrew Sanchez and Jordan Wright to wrap up a banner year. His 2022 campaign was not nearly as successful, as future champ Alex Pereira captured a decision over him and Gerald Meerschaert submitted him.
UFC Atlantic City will take place on March 30 inside of the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The main event has not yet been announced, although a flyweight pairing of Erin Blanchfield vs. Manon Fiorot will serve high on its billing. Additionally, strawweights toe the line as Virna Jandiroba fights Lupita Godinez, while Andre Petroski and Jacob Malkoun collide at 185 pounds.
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