Chris Weidman

Christopher James Weidman (born June 17, 1984) is an American professional mixed martial artist. He is signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he competes in the middleweight division. He is a former UFC Middleweight Champion. An accomplished amateur wrestler, Weidman was a two-time NJCAA All-American and a two-time NCAA Division I All-American during his collegiate career. He began his mixed martial arts career in 2008, and joined the UFC in 2011, soon amassing a 9–0 record. In 2013, Weidman came to worldwide prominence by defeating Anderson Silva to win the UFC Middleweight Championship. This ended Silva's 16-fight winning streak inside the UFC and his seven-year reign as the champion. Weidman retained the title for two and a half years, defending it three times before losing it to Luke Rockhold. Weidman was born in Baldwin, New York, on June 17, 1984, the second of three children. He is of German and Irish descent and was raised as a Lutheran. He and his older brother were involved in numerous athletic activities. Chris started wrestling at a very young age. With his natural athleticism, he mastered the sport very quickly. He attended Baldwin Senior High School on Long Island where he was a Nassau County and New York state wrestling champion.