If you don't hear much about undefeated UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman (13-0, 9-0 UFC), it isn't just because of the infrequency of his fights.
The unassuming and soft spoken New York native is never mentioned with the same frequency or interest as brash Irish featherweight Conor McGregor or women's bantamweight arm collector Ronda Rousey. However, The Chris chalks that up to keeping his trap shut.
"If I was a trash talker, I'd definitely get more attention," Weidman says. "But that's not what I'm really in it for. I'm not in it for a short term thing, either. I'm trying to become the greatest of all time. Notoriety and fame and all of that stuff will come. I'm not in a rush for it. The more that people respect me as a person, and respect me as a fighter, I keep doing what I'm doing, all of that stuff comes."
With a thin number of top middleweights to challenge for the belt, Weidman already has his eyes on a "super fight" with fellow undefeated fighter Jon Jones (not counting his DQ loss to Matt Hamill). The two have drawn comparisons on a number of occasions, including from the boss himself, Dana White.
Before that super fight happens, however, he'll have to go through Luke Rockhold, whom he is set to face at UFC 194 in December at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
The bout would likely get more hype if not for the fact that the main event is being headlined by Jose Aldo and Conor McGregor, a fight with more bad blood than a vampire banquet.
Although Rockhold has played his part in trying to rile up the seemingly unflappable All-American, Weidman hasn't responded. But that doesn't mean he doesn't have the same supreme confidence in himself that was required to dethrone the greatest middleweight of all time:
"I definitely have a lot of respect for him," he says of Rockhold. "He brings a lot to the table. I'll be prepared for him. So for me, I don't need to talk too much trash. I just know what I'm going to do. I really believe I'm going to rock him and completely dominate him and it's going to be fun to see the shock on his face. If he really believes the stuff he says, it's going to be fun to see the look of surprise on his face."
Should UFC 194 stay free of the injury bug it's easily one of the best of the year, featuring the aforementioned Jose Aldo vs. Conor McGregor and Luke Rockhold vs. Chris Weidman fights alongside top contender matchup Ronaldo Souza vs. Yoel Romero.
It's all part of a blockbuster triple header weekend concocted by UFC in early September.