Former UFC middleweight champion [autotag]Chris Weidman[/autotag] finally got some things off his chest to his former opponent [autotag]Anderson Silva[/autotag].
The first episode of Weidman’s new show “Won’t Back Down” featured the man he shared the cage with for two UFC title fights, and now brother in gruesome leg injury, former UFC middleweight champion Silva.
Weidman suffered a snapped leg in his fight against Uriah Hall after a checked kick at UFC 261, which was an eerily similar scene to when he checked Silva’s kick at UFC 168 that also resulted in a nasty leg break.
“I gotta be honest, it’s just crazy how this happened to both of us,” Weidman said to Silva. “Really, the first thing that popped into my head when I broke my leg, as soon as I hit the ground – actually as soon as I looked at my leg and I see it flop around, the first thing that went in my head was, ‘I can’t believe…’ Like, I thought about you.”
I’ve been wanting to apologize to @spideranderson for quite some time. I’m so thankful I got to finally do that.
Watch: https://t.co/5a1tnCk6dA pic.twitter.com/2RkO0pSCf4
— Chris Weidman (@chrisweidman) June 18, 2021
Weidman took the opportunity to apologize for how he reacted to Silva’s break and for doing things like taking pictures with fans who asked him to pose as if he were checking a leg kick.
“I didn’t know your leg broke as soon as it happened,” Weidman said. “I thought you were just in pain. I circled around and I remembered hearing the screaming like someone was being murdered.”
Silva’s screams after his leg break could be heard throughout the arena and they were indeed horrifying.
“I feel terrible about it now because now I understand all the pain you went through, all the trials and tribulations you went through, and it just makes me empathize with you so much more,” Weidman explained.
Weidman has been regularly documenting his road to recovery on Instagram, including detailing his daily struggles with simple activities and physical therapy sessions.
“I’ve never even said this out loud, but it’s been on my mind really since it happened, but I want to apologize to you,” Weidman stated.
Silva appreciated the gesture but assured Weidman that an apology was not necessary.
“In the moment when I broke my leg, I know you didn’t realize. You know I feel pain, but not broke my leg,” Silva said. “I understand, but don’t say sorry.”
This was a very cool, emotional moment between former foes who shared the cage for a pair of title fights. Now that they have both experienced the same injuries, their bond has grown even more.
Watch the full episode above.
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