Fox Sports reporter Jay Glazer is hyping up UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman as the next big thing in the UFC as he prepares for his first title defense against someone other than Anderson Silva. Weidman shocked the mixed martial arts universe with a knockout win over Silva to take the belt, then stunned them all one more time when he defended the belt and shattered Silva's leg in the process.
Still Glazer thinks Weidman's undervalued because he lacks the self-aggrandizing traits of some of the sport's bigger stars. If he keeps winning though, that sense of humility can begin to work in his favor.
"He has the potential to be the next star," Glazer told MMAjunkie. "He's a good-looking guy, and he's as down to earth as you're ever going to get. The sport can change some people, and it hasn't to him.
Weidman gunning for KO of Machida, content to submit him
"I think he is a star, but he's not yet polished," Glazer continued. "He's the future, and he's legitimately one of the sweetest human beings you'll ever meet in your life. His shtick is that he has no shtick."
Inside the Octagon, he's as gifted as anyone according to Glazer even if he's not yet getting the credit. "The guy is a more violent version of Chael Sonnen with better standup," Glazer said. "His pace is great. ... People don't consider him (a top) pound-for-pound (fighter) yet, but he has the knockout punch, he has takedowns, he has the submissions, and he has the chin. There's nothing in particular that's wrong with him."
With two victories over Silva, widely considered the greatest mixed martial artist of all time, another big win against a difficult fighter like Lyoto Machida, whom he will face Saturday, will really force MMA observers to take notice.
"Machida's tough for everybody," Glazer said. "He's a matchup nightmare no matter who you are. I just want Chris - if he wins - I just want him to get the respect he finally deserves."
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