Chris Weidman’s horrifying leg injury two years ago at UFC 261 is a memory that’s burned into most fight fans’ minds, however, his retelling of how painful it was is even worse.
Chris Weidman will go do as one of the best fighters to ever compete in the UFC’s middleweight division. While the last eight years of his career have been a nightmare as he’s lost six of his last eight, he is still a former division champion and the man who ended the legendary reign of Anderson Silva.
Yet, beyond his difficult run over the last decade, for many fans — especially newer ones — the shocking end of his last bout in the Octagon are the first thoughts that pop into their minds when hearing his name. Because he endured one of the most gruesome injuries the sport had ever seen.
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In April 2021 at UFC 261, Weidman faced off with fellow New York native Uriah Hall in a featured middleweight bout on the card. Yet, the matchup only lasted 17 seconds. However, the fight was not ended due to a knockout blow or submission, it was stopped after the former champion broke his leg on a kick.
Hall checked a low kick from Weidman that badly mangled his lower leg and immediately brought an end to the bout. It was shocking but also an injury that has happened many times in the sport, including in Weidman’s rematch against Silva.
It was something he actually mentioned in a recent interview on UFC Unfiltered as he detailed the excruciating pain of the injury.
“As soon as I broke my leg and I saw it, I go, ‘Holy crap!’ I saw the bones and everything. I just remembered Anderson Silva screaming in pain, like someone was murdering him. And I know this is going to suck and here comes — and as soon as I felt the pain kick in I was just begging people ‘Please!’
“Now they’re moving my leg around. They’re trying to hold it into place as they get me on a stretcher and all this crap, and the bones are moving around. And the pain — I can’t even explain the pain. The pain was the worst thing I could ever imagine. I kept begging them to give me pain pills: ‘Give me something quick. Put me to sleep. Get me on painkillers. Knock me out. I cannot deal with this.’ This is not meant for human beings to deal with.”
– Chris Weidman (h/t MMAJunkie)
The UFC legend has not fought in the two years since the injury and has had to have more than one surgery to repair the shattered bone. However, the middleweight great did mention he still intends to return to action and is eyeing a comeback fight this summer.