After another loss, Chris Weidman vows to come back better
Middleweight Chris Weidman from Baldwin was defeated in the third round by Jacare Souza during UFC 230 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, on Nov. 3, 2018. Credit: Jeffrey Basinger
Dejection enveloped Chris Weidman’s face as he made the slow walk back to the locker room Saturday night at UFC 230. A walk made slower because for the second time at Madison Square Garden, and the fourth time in his last five fights, Weidman walked off as the defeated fighter.
Perhaps a small amount of comfort could be taken from the ovation he received from the hometown crowd as the Baldwin-raised Weidman neared the arena exit after losing to Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza. For the man who campaigned so hard to legalize his sport of mixed martial arts in his home state, this wasn’t part of the plan. He was supposed to receive the victorious hero’s embrace this time.
“Unfortunately last night didn’t workout for me,” Weidman, a former middleweight champion, tweeted Sunday afternoon. “Congrats to Jacare & his family & team on an amazing win. He is a true warrior & it was an honor to share the octagon with him. Thanks to everyone for the support, love & prayers. I appreciate it all. I will be back better from this!”
For two-plus rounds, Weidman looked nearly unbeatable, his hands as crisp as ever as his left jab made a home of Souza’s face. But Souza kept coming forward. He landed a number of overhand rights in the second round and enough good body shots to win the round on one judge’s card. (The other two judges had it 20-18 for Weidman.)
Midway through the third round, as Weidman went to throw a right, Souza countered with an overhand right that connected to Weidman’s left temple and sent him to the ground. Weidman (14-4) looked to be out, but referee Dan Miragliotta did not stop the bout. Souza did not move in immediately for the finish. Weidman rolled to his right and clutched Souza’s ankle, partly out of instinct. Souza then, reluctantly, threw four more punches before Miragliotta stopped the bout for the TKO at the 2:46 mark of the final round.
“The first round was kind of close to perfect,” Weidman’s trainer Ray Longo said. “The second round I thought he edged out a bit. It’s a bummer, man. I hope getting fight of the night eases some of the pain.”
Weidman and Souza each received a $50,000 bonus for earning fight of the night, a small financial consolation prize for the Long Islander who came into his first fight in 16 months in great shape physically and mentally.
“He had a good camp, his head was in the right spot,” Longo said. “Hats off to Jacare. I don’t even think he could breathe but he dug down and found a way to keep going forward.”
What’s next for Weidman, 34, the once undefeated and undisputed middleweight champion who before Saturday night was on the doorstep of another title shot? He has, in the past, talked about moving up to the light heavyweight division. He also can stay at middleweight and try to work his way back toward the top of a division full of new talent and where he has losses to three of the top-ranked fighters.
“Weidman will go home, probably take a couple weeks, shake this off,” UFC president Dana White said, “and then start talking about what’s next for him.”
Mark La Monica is a deputy sports editor at Newsday. He also covers mixed martial arts.
