Underdog not so in the eyes of many of his peers for the middleweight title.
It has been the most hyped main event of the year in the UFC and fans are just hours away from seeing if Chris Weidman can dethrone the king Anderson Silva.
If he is able to the best at 185lb he will need to do five things to maximize his chances of shocking the world and turning the UFC middleweight and wider mixed martial arts world on its head.
1. Pressure to close the distance
If Anderson Silva is able to turn this fight into a kickboxing match there will only be one winner.
Weidman needs to shut down the space between he and his opponent and get a hold of him or at least do damage on the inside where Silva cannot use his striking and reach advantage quite as much.
2. Throw strikes to set up his takedown attempts
Weidman is one of the best in the UFC, in any division, at earning takedowns with more than four on average coming over 15 minutes.
But to do that he will need to throw strikes as he comes in and closes the distance and not allow Silva to counter-strike, something that has won his many rounds and fights in his career.
3. Control the top position
The multi-time All-American wrestler needs to tap into his extensive background and his black belt in Jiu-Jitsu to control the top when, or if, he is able to get Silva on his back.
Weidman is able to pass guard well and he will look to finish via strikes, despite his ground and pound being effective, rather than vicious.
4. Get past the aura of the man in front of him
Silva’s career is such that he has beaten opponents before Bruce Buffer has a chance to yell “It’s time”.
Given all his has achieved in the sport, Silva’s career has taken on legendary status, however, Weidman has said all of the right things in the lead-up to the fight in that he only sees a man, made out of flesh and bone with a couple of arms and legs and a head – which he will be aiming for.
5. Use the confidence gained from an undefeated MMA career and UFC career
Despite more pros backing Weidman than any other opponent of Silva to usurp the king, Weidman must gain inspiration from a different kind of confidence.
He does not know what it is like to lose.
That is a huge thing for a young fighter as he enters his 10th bout in his career as he has faced some quality opponents in a short time.
While it could be argued Silva has not been defeated in so long he too would have forgotten what it was like, but for Weidman, his record is 9-0, something even Silva cannot claim.
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