Former UFC Champion Chris Weidman Announces Retirement After 14-Year Career

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman announced his retirement from mixed martial arts Friday during the UFC 311 weigh-in show in Los Angeles. The 40-year-old fighter, who has been a staple of the UFC since 2011, revealed that his decision to step away from the octagon was known only to a select few in his inner circle.

Weidman (16-8 MMA, 12-8 UFC) last fought in December 2023, suffering a second-round knockout loss to Eryk Anders in a 195-pound catchweight bout. The fight was rescheduled after Anders fell ill on the original fight date. Reflecting on his career, Weidman expressed gratitude for his journey, which included one of the most iconic moments in UFC history: his stunning knockout of Anderson Silva in 2013 to claim the middleweight title.

“Since I decided to get into this sport in 2009, the goal was to be a UFC fighter. Then immediately, the goal was to be a UFC champion,” Weidman said during the weigh-in show. “Fourteen years later, I’m here to tell you that I’m hanging up the gloves in the UFC. I no longer will be fighting in the organization that changed my life in so many ways.”

Weidman’s career began with a 9-0 record, including five consecutive wins in the UFC. His victory over Silva at UFC 162 ended the Brazilian’s historic reign as champion and remains one of the sport’s most memorable upsets. The two fighters met again six months later at UFC 168, where Silva suffered a gruesome leg injury after Weidman checked a kick, leading to a TKO victory for the American.

Weidman successfully defended his title three times, defeating Silva, Lyoto Machida, and Vitor Belfort. However, his reign ended in December 2015 when he lost the belt to Luke Rockhold via fourth-round TKO. That defeat marked the beginning of a challenging period for Weidman, who went 3-8 in his final 11 fights, including seven knockout losses.

One of those losses came in April 2021, when Weidman suffered a leg break against Uriah Hall in a hauntingly similar fashion to Silva’s injury years earlier. Despite the setbacks, Weidman’s legacy remains tied to his victories over Silva and his contributions to the sport.

“It’s been a ride, from being an undefeated world champion and being able to beat one of the greatest of all time in Anderson Silva, and then being able to defend my belt three times against some of the greatest legends of the sport,” Weidman said. “I’m just very grateful. It’s a weird one. I’ve been calling myself a UFC fighter since 2011, and today maybe for the first time I can’t say that.”

While Weidman has retired from the UFC, he left the door open for potential opportunities outside the organization. Many former UFC fighters have transitioned to boxing or bareknuckle fighting after retiring from MMA. “I’m opening up a new chapter in my life, and I’m excited about the future,” Weidman said. “I’m leaving the door open for big opportunities out there. But we’re moving on to see my life develop in different ways.”

Weidman’s retirement marks the end of an era for one of the UFC’s most storied middleweights. Fans and fellow fighters alike have celebrated his career, which will be remembered for its highs, including his historic wins over Silva, and its resilience in the face of adversity.