Chris Weidman was considered a strong middleweight prospect before he ever stepped foot in a UFC cage. A former two-time Division 1 All American from Hostra, Weidman has incredible wrestling skills and a developing submission game that makes him dangerous to just about any opponent.
Demian Maia isn’t just any opponent, though. He’s one of the best submission grapplers in MMA, regardless of weight class. He’s an Abu Dhabi champion who once beat heavyweight Gabriel Gonzaga in a grappling contest, and that’s no small feat. He’s recently displayed a much-improved stand-up game, but his otherworldly grappling skills will always be his bread and butter.
Weidman’s true opponent in this bout is time, or the lack of it. He took the fight with just ten days notice because he felt like it was the opportunity of a lifetime, and perhaps it is. He’ll be on national television on the UFC’s second big broadcast on FOX; that’s a rich spot that many fighters on the UFC roster would die for.
But given the lack of notice, much of Weidman’s time preparing for the fight will be spent dropping from the 210 pounds he carried around when he accepted the fight. There’s no real time to formulate a game plan or prepare for any of Maia’s strengths. With just ten days notice, I have to believe that he’s not going to be fully prepared for an opponent of Maia’s caliber. It would be impossible to expect otherwise.
With that said, I believe that even the small camp Weidman will conduct for this fight will be enough. He’ll use his wrestling to stifle Maia’s submission game on the ground on the way to a decision win.
PREDICTION: Chris Weidman by decision
