UFC 258: Chris Weidman wouldn’t be surprised if UFC cuts him with loss to Uriah Hall

Chris Weidman got back on the winning track this past August, defeating Omari Akhmedov via unanimous decision to snap a two-fight losing skid. Still, it was only “All American’s” second win in his previous seven fights.

That’s the reason the former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight champion isn’t super confident he won’t be cut should he lose in his upcoming bout against Uriah Hall, which scheduled to go down at UFC 258 on Feb. 13, 2021.

“I’m not really worried about it, but I wouldn’t be surprised,” Weidman said in an interview with James Lynch (via MMA Junkie). “There’s nothing that surprises me. I don’t think I’m more special than anybody to where they’re just going to go like, ‘Oh, Chris Weidman’s a guy we’re just going to keep forever no matter what.’ If I don’t prove I am a world class fighter and prove that I’m still title challenger ready, then yeah, I can 100 percent see that.”

The promotion has cut several long-time veterans over the last few months as part of its attempt tp make room on its bloated roster. But the way Weidman sees it, the promotion is simply trying to groom the new blood coming in. And it has more to do with money than with trying to find the new face of UFC.

“It’s unprecedented that they’re letting guys go with fights on their contract,” Weidman said. “It really does put everybody in a position if you’re in UFC like, ‘Oh crap.’ If you’re not winning right now, especially if you’re getting paid a lot of money, it looks like they’re trying to get rid of you and bring these younger guys up who they’re not paying as much money. It seems like they’re kind of focused on that.”

Weidman has been under contract with the promotion for nearly a decade now, but he hasn’t shown the flashes of brilliance that brought him to the top of the 185-pound mountain for some time.

A win over Hall — who he defeated once before 10 years ago under the Ring of Combat banner — might ensure that “All American” remains with the promotion a little while longer.