Pleading Dana White begs UFC 292’s Chris Weidman to retire up following brutal comeback loss — ‘Please retire’

Is it time to have “the talk?” It sure sounds like Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) head honcho, Dana White, wants former Middleweight champion, Chris Weidman, to retire.

Weidman lost his highly anticipated comeback fight at UFC 292 last night (Sat., Aug. 19, 2023), dropping a lopsided unanimous decision to fellow Octagon veteran, Brad Tavares, from inside TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.

In defeat, Weidman — who sat on the sidelines for two years rehabilitating a broken leg — appeared to suffer a serious knee injury that required him to be sent to the hospital post-fight in a wheelchair (watch it).

During UFC 292’s post-fight press conference (watch it here), UFC President, Dana White, revealed that he wants his 39-year-old “All American” to call it a career.

“I love Chris Weidman — I love him,” White told reporters. “I love his family. And I think he should retire. We talked to Doctor [Davidson], and he thinks he blew his MCL or ACL — he blew one of the CLs. You know, the guy is just coming back from a gruesome injury, and you know, listen, man, ‘Father Time’ is not our friend at all, but definitely, if you’re a professional athlete.”

When asked if he would consider giving Weidman one more fight for a send-off, White doubled down on the retirement.

“First of all, depending on the damage to the knee, we’re talking another year,” White concluded. “So, I would say, ‘Chris, I love you. Please, please retire.’”

Weidman has had a Hall of Fame-worthy career if he calls it quits after suffering back-to-back losses, including his gruesome leg break at UFC 261 in 2021. He was the first fighter in UFC to slay Anderson Silva (twice) and ended up defending the 185-pound belt three times (third all-time in UFC Middleweight history).

Weidman has also banked three “Fight of the Night” bonuses and collected four “Performance of the Night” checks.

What’s he got left to prove?

For complete UFC 292 results, coverage and highlights, click HERE.