Former longtime UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva thinks current divisional kingpin Chris Weidman got lucky at UFC 168 last month.
Not surprisingly, “The All-American’s” team doesn’t take to kindly to that notion.
Ray Longo, Weidman’s striking coach blasted “The Spider” in a recent interview with MMA Junkie, scoffing at the notion that his prized pupil got lucky in their rematch.
"I just think he got dominated in both fights, and definitely doesn't deserve anywhere near a third fight, in my opinion. I think these guys just aren't in touch with reality, and they have to learn how to lose properly and grow from your losses, and move on - instead of making excuse,” Longo said.
“One win or loss doesn't make a champion, but certainly making excuses isn't being a champion, either. I would think it's a lot of Oxycontins talking.”
This past weekend, Silva told Brazilian media outlet Globo that his second loss to Weidman was due to a lucky set of circumstances and that he would’ve won if he never gruesomely broke his left leg on the champ’s knee.
Despite becoming the first fighter to ever knockout Silva in 39 professional fights at their first encounter at UFC 162 in July, Weidman’s career-defining win might as well have had an asterisk next to it as fans pointed to Silva’s excessive taunting and showboating as the reason for the loss.
In their rematch on December 28, Weidman once again dictated the pace in the first round, dropping Silva with a right hand from the clinch before delivering heady ground-and-pound for the remainder of the round.
Although Silva appeared to be finding some rhythm early in the second round, he shattered his left leg just over a minute into the round.
Silva is not expected to return until late 2014 the earliest, while Weidman is next expected to defend his title against surging contender Vitor Belfort.
The bout is rumored to take place in Las Vegas in May, though the bout has not been formally booked yet.