Weidman wants the winner of Stann vs Bispig
by Steven Marrocco | source: mmajunkie.com
“I don’t want them to try to leapfrog me like that,” Weidman said. “I want that winner, and that would be a true No. 1 contender fight.”
Many observers had Weidman pegged to be the replacement for Vitor Belfort in a fight against Alan Belcher at UFC 153, which takes place Oct. 13 at HSBC Arena in Rio de Janeiro. But that possible matchup seemed to be ruled out by a spinal fracture sustained by Belcher, who said the cancellation was a “blessing in disguise.”
Belcher named Weidman as one possible opponent for an expected return in November. While Weidman said he would fight Belcher if asked to do so, he would prefer to meet either Bisping or Stann.
“If the UFC offered me that fight, I’m definitely taking it,” Weidman said of the potential meeting with Belcher. “One problem is, from my point of view, that Demian Maia and Munoz both had a bigger name and had a higher ranking than Belcher does. So it’s like, am I going backward by fighting him? I don’t know.
“If it was up to me, I’d rather fight a bigger name … because that’s going to get me closer to the title shot. Anderson can’t say I don’t have a big enough name at that point.”