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Let The Weidman Hype Train Begin
The Real Deal: Chris Weidman Has Arrived!
Domination. That’s the word many MMA fans are using to describe the performance of Chris Weidman this past Wednesday against Mark Munoz. The MMA world was buzzing over the show down of the two All-American wrestlers for months on end, speculating where the winner ends up in the title picture. Well, things got a little clearer on Wednesday.
Heading into the bout, Mark Munoz was on a super hot streak with an impressive four-fight win streak with wins over Aaron Simpson, C.B. Dollaway, Demian Maia, and Chris Leben. Weidman was a four fight UFC win streak of his own: Alessio Sakara, Jesse Bongfeldt, Tom Lawlor and Demian Maia all making up is win list.
In a division that is starting to take shape, this fight meant a lot. With Anderson Silva retaining his belt against Chael Sonnen, it left the number 1 contender spot wide open for someone else to swoop in and claim it for their own.
Chris Weidman saw this chance and took control of Munoz from the start, simply dominating The Filipino Wrecking Machine. He put Munoz on his back and worked him, and even showed off some of his fancy Matt Serra BJJ.
Despite the domination on the ground, the fight edned with an emphatic KO. After Munoz escaped from the ground, the fight stood up and the two traded. Weidman, showing off perfect timing, slipped a left hand while throwing an elbow that clipped Munoz right above the eye.
The elbow dropped him, and Weidman proceeded to drop bomb-after-bomb. Munoz was clearly out cold, however the ref took his time stopping the fight. When Munoz lifted his head off of the mat, blood was dripping from his cut.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwVw_IKXYMc
Does Weidman Have What It Takes?
Weidman showed off an impressive skill set in his Munoz fight. Coming into the UFC, everyone knew that he had impeccable wrestling, and being a product of the Serra-Long Fight Team out in Long Island, everyone assumed he had some pretty good BJJ technique.
With a good, well-rounded ground game, Weidman also posses a respectable stand-up game that forces his opponents to respect him even more. This was on full display when he landed the picture perfect elbow to the forehead of Mark Munoz in their bout.
“The All American” has yet to show a weak spot in his game. If there is one thing that Chael Sonnen showed us is that Anderson Silva is at his worst when he is being pressured and isn’t allowed to find his range.
Given his wrestling background, and it’s common knowledge that Weidman would not allow Anderson a second to find his range, and would apply pressure right off of the bat. He has the BJJ arsenal to hold his own on the ground, and the striking to keep Anderson guessing if the fight goes to the feet.
Does Chris Weidman have what it takes to dethrone the all-mighty Anderson Silva? Potentially. However, I think the MMA world would be buzzing over a possible showdown between these two!