Chris Weidman has retired from MMA.
The former UFC middleweight champion announced his decision to hang up the gloves Friday during the promotion’s weigh-in show for UFC 311 in Los Angeles.
“Since I decided to get into this sport, since 2009, the goal was to be a UFC fighter. Then, immediately, the goal was to be a UFC world champion,” Weidman said. “Fourteen years later, I’m here to tell you guys, I’m hanging up the gloves in the UFC. I no longer am going to be fighting for the organization that changed my life in so many ways.
“I’m just super appreciative to everybody who got me here. That’s the breaking news, and I just want to thank the UFC for all the opportunities they’ve given me. It’s really become a family. From the Fertitta brothers to Dana [White], to Hunter Campbell, Joe Silva — who was the guy, the matchmaker, who brought me into the UFC originally — Mick Maynard, and all the staff from the UFC, they’re all just like family. They’re just amazing people, but it’s time to move on.”
Weidman, 40, last fought against Eryk Anders at UFC 310 this past December. “The All-American” entered the matchup hoping to get on his first winning streak since his title reign ended in 2015, but ultimately fell short against Anders via a second-round knockout.
But a place in MMA history will always belong to Weidman, who in 2013 became the man to famously end Anderson Silva’s legendary 16-fight UFC unbeaten streak and 185-pound title reign. Weidman defended that belt three times, defeating Silva in their rematch, as well as Lyoto Machida and Vitor Belfort to kick off his professional MMA run as an undefeated 13-0 champion.
While Weidman is parting ways with the UFC, he did note that he may not wholly abandon combat sports.
“I’m just very grateful. It’s a weird one,” Weidman said. “I’ve been calling myself a UFC fighter since 2011, and today, maybe for the first time, I can’t say that. It’s weird. It’s kind of part of your identity. You’ve got to move on, and so I’m opening up a new chapter in my life and I’m excited about the future. I’m leaving the door open for big opportunities out there. But we’re moving on to see my life develop in different ways.”
