UFC News 2016: Weidman Expects Rematch Against Rockhold; McGregor Predicts First Round Stoppage Over Dos Anjos
Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman is expecting to have an immediate rematch against the man who took his title away from him, current champion Luke Rockhold. Rockhold stopped Weidman in the fourth round of their co-main event bout at UFC 194 last December.
The said loss also marked the first in Weidman's almost seven-year professional mixed martial arts career.
During his appearance on an episode of Ariel Helwani's "The MMA Hour," Weidman spoke about his immediate future plans.
Helwani says that Weidman has been following the developments on his fellow middleweights Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza, Yoel Romero and Vitor Belfort. And with the recent announcement of the making of the middleweight showdown between Belfort and Souza, Weidman says he believes he is still next in line to contend for the title.
"He's begun training for rematch with Luke Rockhold," Helwani said. "He hasn't been told he's getting that fight yet. He says he wants to fight for it any time. At UFC 199, any time, he wants the rematch."
Weidman, who is more notably known as the man who stopped Anderson Silva twice in 2013, currently holds a record of 13-1, with nine victories by stoppage.
Prior to his loss to Rockhold last December, he was able to defend his title a total of three times, against other Brazilian legends namely Vitor Belfort and former light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida.
Meanwhile, UFC featherweight king and lightweight title challenger Conor McGregor has made his prediction for his upcoming fight against 155-pound champion Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 197 in March.
Speaking at the pre-fight press conference on Wednesday, "The Notorious" boldly declared another quick stoppage against another Brazilian champion.
"I believe I will dust Rafael inside one minute; he is a slower, sloppier version of Aldo," McGregor said.
The event takes place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be co-headlined by a bantamweight title showdown between champion Holly Holm and two-time title contender Miesha Tate.
