Chris Weidman withdrew from a planned boxing match against Anderson Silva due to a torn bicep tendon, leading Silva to face Tyron Woodley instead, but Weidman remains hopeful for a future bout with Silva once he recovers.
Chris Weidman won’t be facing Anderson Silva on the upcoming Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua card. Despite his best efforts, an injury in training sidelined him.
Initially, Weidman was set to box Silva on a card headlined by Paul vs. Gervonta “Tank” Davis. After that fight was scrapped, he still expected to meet Silva on December 19. But then—disaster struck.
“I didn’t think I could get hurt boxing,” Weidman shared on Instagram. “It’s so much easier on the body compared to MMA.” Unfortunately, he tore his bicep tendon throwing a left hook.
He tried pushing through, even giving it some rest. But with a 95% tear, the pain was unbearable. “I couldn’t get through it,” he admitted.
Every time he tried to train, the pain flared up. “I couldn’t even hold my arm up for defense anymore,” he added. Frustrating, to say the least.
This fight was meant to be Weidman’s comeback after retiring from the UFC. He had signed with GFL, but that fell apart too. Just waiting for another chance to compete.
The opportunity came with Silva in the boxing ring. But now, surgery on his bicep has knocked him out of the December fight.
“It sucks,” Weidman said. “It’s crazy how it happened.” One minute of sparring, a simple left hook, and his bicep popped.
With Weidman out, Silva will now face Tyron Woodley in Miami on December 19. A shift in plans, but the show goes on.
Still, Weidman remains hopeful for a future bout with Silva once he’s healed. “I hope it happens,” he expressed. “I really fell in love with boxing.”
He’s eager to get back into training and see if that fight with Anderson can still happen. Here’s hoping for a speedy recovery.