Chris Weidman's next fight will be a close one according to his former opponent and former UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida, who also lauded the current 185-pound champion's stand-game.
Chris Weidman's next fight will be against UFC veteran and former heavyweight champion Vitor "The Phenom" Belfort at UFC 181 on December 6th. And for Lyoto Machida, the match-up between the UFC's top 185-pound fighters could potentially be one for the books.
"It's a good fight for both," Machida said in an interview with MMA Fighting. "They both stand a chance. We can't underestimate either of them. Weidman has evolved a lot, has a big heart."
Lyoto Machida had the chance to encounter the fighting styles of both men, having faced Chris Weidman at UFC 175 in July, and having trained with Vitor Belfort in the past. This was how he was able to gauge the capabilities of both men.
"Vitor is super talented, also evolved a lot, and is an athlete that works hard," Machida said, speaking of "The Phenom". "When you have such a close fight like that, when it's hard to break down, it's hard to predict a result."
Chris Weidman's next fight will be different from his last one against "The Dragon", mainly due to the contrasting styles of both Brazilian fighters. While Lyoto Machida employs a more elusive approach given his karate background, Vitor Belfort still uses the traditional Vale Tudo approach with no holds barred roots.
While "The Phenom's" fighting style changed as his career progressed, he is still a versatile combatant inside the cage. But for the former 205-pound champion, it would not be a problem for Chris Weidman.
"Weidman is ready to fight anywhere," Machida continued. "If he has to stand, he will. Vitor can obviously land a punch and end this, that's what makes this sport so captivating, but I think he will be ready to fight him there."
