Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight titleholder Chris Weidman came face-to-face with UFC 175 opponent Lyoto Machida (again) at the kickoff press conference for “International Fight Week” (watch the replay here), which takes place over Fourth of July Weekend and includes UFC 175, The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 19 Finale, and UFC Fan Expo.
Weidman (11-0) won the 185-pound strap by defeating — and then retaining against — Anderson Silva in consecutive fights. While he clearly has knockout power, the former collegiate wrestling standout also possesses a stifling ground game.
But his opponent is not the easiest guy in the world to take down.
Machida (21-4) annihilated Mark Munoz — one of the best wrestlers in the middleweight division — by way of thunderous head kick knockout at UFC Fight Night 30 back in October. The Brazilian followed that up by outstriking Gegard Mousasi at UFC Fight Night 36 last February.
The “All American” is currently a -220 favorite.
Also coming nose-to-nose at the UFC 175 press conference were Ronda Rousey and Alexis Davis. They’ll scrap for “Rowdy’s” bantamweight belt in the “Weidman vs. Machida” co-main event (full fight card here). See their female face off in the staredown pic below.
