At 40, Chris Weidman, a former UFC middleweight champion, is cautiously evaluating his fighting future on a fight-by-fight basis after recovering from a severe leg injury and numerous surgeries, recognizing the physical limitations that come with age and past trauma.
At 40, Chris Weidman finds himself grappling with the reality of aging in a sport that demands youth and vigor. Just over three years ago, he suffered one of the most harrowing injuries in UFC history—a broken leg that sidelined him for more than two years.
Defying the odds, the former middleweight champion clawed his way back to victory against Bruno Silva in March. Yet, despite this triumph, Weidman remains cautious about his future in the octagon. “Honestly, I’m still taking it fight by fight,” he shared with MMA Fighting.
In his initial comeback in 2023, Weidman was confident—until he stepped into the cage. The trauma from his past injury lingered, leaving him hesitant to unleash kicks with the same leg. His opponent, Brad Tavares, capitalized on this hesitation with relentless leg kicks, resulting in a small fracture on Weidman’s other leg.
Fast forward seven months: Weidman returned stronger and more assured. He now prepares to face Eryk Anders at UFC 309, but he knows that nothing is certain once the bell rings. “I’ll make my decision after the fight,” Weidman said, emphasizing patience over hasty conclusions.
Despite feeling great in training camps and thriving on routine and discipline, Weidman acknowledges the inevitable passage of time. In a recent baseball challenge with his son, he was starkly reminded of how age has affected him outside of MMA.
Reflecting on this experience, Weidman admitted, “When it comes to other sports, I feel like I slowed down.” Yet, in the MMA gym, he’s as competitive as ever. However, his body bears the marks of countless surgeries—30 in total, with 14 on just one leg.
Weidman doesn’t believe he’s lost a step in fighting but recognizes the importance of maintaining his body’s strength and resilience. “It’s something I’ve got to make sure I warm up and I’m on top of,” he noted. For Weidman, every fight is not just a battle against an opponent but also against time itself.