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Chris Weidman, a former UFC middleweight champion, has surprised fans and analysts by signing with the Global Fight League (GFL) just days after announcing his retirement from the UFC. His appearance as Team New York’s second pick in the GFL draft has sparked curiosity about his decision to continue fighting.
Addressing the move during the GFL broadcast, Weidman openly acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding his future.
“The elephant in the room is I just retired from the UFC,” he admitted. “A lot of people thought I was done fighting. I didn’t know. I thought maybe I am done fighting. I was kind of open to other opportunities outside of the UFC, but it had to be good.”
Weidman, 40, views the GFL as a chance to reignite his career while settling old scores. He highlighted his history with other GFL fighters, including Luke Rockhold, Gegard Mousasi, and Uriah Hall. Rockhold handed Weidman his first professional loss, and the highly anticipated rematch never materialized during their UFC tenure. Hall, on the other hand, broke Weidman’s leg in their last encounter—a moment that left a significant mark on his career.
“It’s older dudes that I have a lot of history with,” Weidman said.“I love to compete and we make a whole lot of money. It’s not something I really feel like I can say no to.”
Weidman’s most recent fight took place at UFC 310 in December, where he suffered a knockout loss to Eryk Anders. Despite that setback, the opportunity to compete in the GFL has reignited his passion for the sport. For Weidman, the combination of financial incentives, competitive matchups, and personal motivation makes this new chapter an exciting prospect.
As Weidman transitions to the GFL, fans can look forward to seeing the veteran fighter attempt to rewrite the narrative of his storied career by facing familiar foes in a fresh setting.