Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman has admitted he could be forced to 'stop fighting' after his latest injury setback resulted in further surgery.
The American suffered a horrific broken leg injury in a stoppage defeat to Uriah Hall in the opening round of his contest back in April this year, and has been forced to undergo multiple surgical procedures in an attempt to recover and return to training.
At 37 years of age, Weidman has reached the pinnacle of the sport knocking out Anderson Silva back in 2013 to become UFC middleweight champion, beating the Brazilian legend again shortly after to defend his title.
But the American former champion has admitted that he is struggling to keep coming back from specific surgeries each time he fights, and admits it could be time to 'stop fighting' if his body does not allow for a full recovery.
“If I get back to the gym and I am able to do the things I am good at again, I will 100% fight," Weidman said on MMA hour to Ariel Helwani.
“But if for some reason I am not able to do the things like grappling, moving and striking I won’t do it to myself.
“Unless I feel that I am the best in the world again, I’m not gonna fight.”
“I still feel like I have what it takes and with the injury fixed, I feel like I can get there I am willing to do what it takes.
“I love fighting and competing, it is what I am best at.
“Listen if my body was telling me now, I wouldn’t just go into the cage for a paycheque and get beat up.
“I am gonna do everything I can to feel the best in the world again and to get back in that gym and compete with the best like I was.
Will McGregor make a comeback in the UFC against Usman? Comment below
Weidman has concluded that he has had over 25 surgeries from injury related issues during his career in the UFC, which has threatened to plague the latter stages of his career into its lowest depths.
But the American has revealed he is not yet worried by the findings after his horrific broken leg, although he believes it could affect him mentally should he try to compete with 'the division's best' once again.
“This is the most painful thing I have ever been through in my life, I am scared and I don’t wanna go through that pain again," Weidman continued.
“I’m going to do everything I possibly can doing the things I can control, but it was a superbly traumatic moment.
“People wanna compare it with Conor McGregor, but I was fresh with the opening strike of the fight but there is no time for excuses.”
Weidman has been going through the same recovery as UFC lightweight McGregor who recently broke his leg in defeat to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264, but it has been revealed he was suffering from 'stress fractures' in his ankle ahead of the contest.
Upon his comeback, the Irishman has revealed his plans to fight welterweight champion Kamaru Usman for his title, claims which the Nigerian has rubbished telling him to stick to the 'likes of Khabib and Diaz'.
