Former UFC champion Chris Weidman made his Octagon comeback following a two-year absence prompted by a severe leg injury. He stepped into the cage against Brad Tavares during his return bout, which was featured on the preliminary card of UFC 292. After his extended absence from the sport, Weidman found himself outclassed by Tavares in all facets as the latter secured a unanimous decision victory.
Although the middleweight veteran could not make a comeback as he would have wanted to, the more concerning part here is that he has injured his leg once again. However, it is not as bad as the previous one against Uriah Hall, which kept him away from the game for a couple of years. Weidman expressed that his ligaments are fine this time around, and that is the important part, as a torn ligament can demand 6 months to a year for recovery.
Dropping a quick excerpt from Monday’s @MMAOnSiriusXM podcast to give everyone an update on my 🦵.
If you want the full story (and all the 🫖), hit that link below and check out the full episode on @SiriusXM!
🎧 https://t.co/OuEwonYM3z pic.twitter.com/TsBqm3tEfK— Chris Weidman (@chrisweidman) August 30, 2023
The former middleweight champion revealed that he has suffered a fracture in his left leg and that it will take about four weeks for him to recover. This is a sign of relief for his fans, as the 39-year-old is nearing the end of his career, and a serious injury at this point in time can force him to retire from the sport.
However, even if he does heal from the injury, Weidman’s return is not certain, as the veteran fighter has only managed to win two out of his last nine fights. During his prime, he was an absolute beast as he made title defenses against legends like Anderson Silva, Vitor Belfort, and Lyoto Machida, but his last few years in the promotion have been quite forgettable.
The leg injury to Chris Weidman is bad news for Conor McGregor fans
Just like Chris Weidman, former UFC double champ Conor McGregor has been away from the octagon due to a leg injury. The Irishman suffered a horrendous leg break at UFC 264 against former interim champion Dustin Poirier. That was Conor’s last appearance inside the octagon. However, ‘The Notorious‘ got his fans excited when he hinted at a return in December.
The concern here remains that, as Weidman suffered another leg injury in his comeback fight, chances are that McGregor too can face that danger. Moreover, Chris Weidman’s opponent, Tavares, was constantly targeting his legs, knowing that they could prove to be the fighter’s weak point. So, it is only natural that Conor’s opponent will also use the same tactic.
However, it must be mentioned that things may be different in Conor’s case, as it all depends on the severity of the injury and the recovery involved. The former champion is likely to face lightweight veteran Michael Chandler in his comeback fight.