Chris Weidman Announces Retirement from MMA

Chris Weidman, former UFC middleweight champion, announced his retirement during the UFC 311 weigh-in show, ending his 13-year career with a record of 16-8. Known for his shocking victory over Anderson Silva in 2013, which ended Silva's 16-fight win streak, Weidman held the middleweight title from 2013 to 2015. Throughout his career, he defended his title successfully against legends like Lyoto Machida and Vitor Belfort before losing it to Luke Rockhold in 2015. Weidman's career has been curtailed by injuries and recent losses, including a TKO by Eryk Anders at UFC 310. UFC President Dana White had previously encouraged Weidman to retire, recognizing the toll his defeats had taken. Weidman expressed gratitude to the UFC and all those involved in his career, leaving open the possibility of future endeavors outside the organization.