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Chris Weidman has every right to be upset about the general lack of interest in his fight with Anderson Silva, but he’s not. I really like his attitude about this. Fans still seem more interested in Silva fighting just about anybody but Weidman. I’m guilty of this too; my ears perk up anytime I hear something about Silva/GSP or Silva/Jones, Silva/Weidman not so much. In all seriousness, that’s not fair to Weidman.

The thought that Anderson Silva could no-show an event likely never crossed the mind of Chris Weidman.

However, after hearing about Silva skipping out on several interviews and media events to promote UFC 162, it appears Weidman is concerned now.

“I just want to make sure we both get in the fricken’ cage July 6,” said Weidman, during an interview with MMAjunkie.com. “I’m still worried about that. I don’t want him to hear this interview and be like, ‘Oh, that’s a good idea.’ So, don’t use this, Anderson.”

Silva, 33-4 overall and 16-0 in his UFC career, said he was unaware of any planned events when he scheduled a plane to take him from Los Angeles to Brazil. He was fined $50,000 by the UFC.

Weidman, 9-0 in his MMA career, has not fought since early last year when he defeated Mark Munoz. Surgery kept him on the sidelines for the remainder of the year.

Chris Weidman will finally get his chance to dethrone Anderson Silva for the UFC middleweight title this Fourth of July Weekend in Las Vegas.

Weidman, unbeaten in his MMA career, believes he only received the next shot at “The Spider” after a loss by Rashad Evans.

“It actually got down to me and Rashad. I was with Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta and they said, ‘Listen, it’s going to be between you and Rashad,’” said Weidman, during a Q&A session last week. “And Rashad ended up losing.”

Evans lost to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, and Weidman moved right into the No. 1 spot. “The All-American” hasn’t fought since a knockout victory over Mark Munoz last year, as surgery sidelined him for several months.

“I was doing an appearance in New Jersey and was like, ‘It’s me. I got it,’ (when Evans lost),” Weidman said. “But they still weren’t saying they were going to fight me, so I just relaxed. And all of a sudden I was in New York and Lorenzo said, ‘By the way, I spoke to Anderson. You’re going to fight him July 6.’”

It’s interesting to hear Weidman talk about the behind-the-scenes working, especially considering Evans was playing very coy in regards to a move to middleweight.

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva will make his next title defense in July against Chris Weidman.

Silva, who has yet to confirm if he has signed a new 10-fight extension with the UFC, appears set on trying his best to fulfill the deal.

“If I can fit all these fights in five years, that will be great,” said Silva, during a recent interview with Tatame.

Silva has not defended his title since midway through 2012 when he finished Chael Sonnen. He took a light heavyweight contest late in the year, topping Stephan Bonnar.

While Weidman is up first, there has been plenty of talk of a super-fight between Silva and Georges St-Pierre or even Jon Jones taking place this year yet.

When Chris Weidman steps inside the Octagon to face Anderson Silva for the UFC middleweight title later this year, he’ll attempt to do something Rich Franklin, Dan Henderson, Chael Sonnen, Yushin Okami and a host of others have been unable to do – defeat “The Spider.”

Weidman, who suffered an injury last year that forced him to the sidelines for the duration of the calendar year, answered questions on Twitter recently concerning his bout with Silva.

“The All-American” pushed hard for a match up with Silva after defeating Mark Munoz, but it appeared as if the Brazilian was uninterested. That changed once Weidman was the only foreseeable option at 185 pounds.

Here’s what Weidman had to say on the social media site:

- He’ll grab “something fast” to eat after the fight because he will “probably be late to the after party.”

- In regards to cutting down to middleweight, he stated that with a full training camp it’s “not hard at all.”

- As for Silva and the actual fight, Weidman said he is “looking for a finish” and will “mix it up” with him.

- When asked about how he’d like to finish the bout, Weidman stated “I would take either” a knockout or submission.

Chris Weidman is putting all of his future UFC earnings on one fight, as “The All-American” takes on Anderson Silva in July at UFC 162.

Weidman, who pushed and pushed for a match with the UFC middleweight champion, told MMAjunkie.com Radio recently that he isn’t asking for a new contract prior to the world title match.

“I think we’re just going to keep the contract,” Weidman said. “I’m definitely OK with making what I was making. I think I was making $24,000 (to show) and $24,000 (to win). I want to do that because then after I beat Anderson like I plan on doing, then obviously the contract will jump up more than if I was to rip up the contract now. I’m ready to put all my eggs in one basket and put my money where my mouth is.”

Some say Weidman doesn’t have enough quality wins, or total wins for that matter, to warrant facing a fighter the caliber of Silva. He doesn’t believe that notion one bit.

“I’ve never had an easy fight,” Weidman said. “Even when I was in Ring of Combat, we always wanted to get the best guys because I wanted to get that experience. Guys like Uriah Hall, who’s coming up ‘The Ultimate Fighter,’ I fought that guy in my third fight.”

Weidman’s skill set is on the upside, and his wrestling/power are a great combo. Is it enough to defeat Silva? Only time will tell.

UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva has yet to sign that long-talked-about extension with the promotion.

Does that mean “The Spider” is in danger of fleeing to another promotion? Hardly, as he recently told Tatame.

“The renovation is headed, we have more time to decide,” he said. “Let’s see how it goes.”

Silva’s next defense will come July 6 at UFC 162 against Chris Weidman. The Brazilian appears none-too-worried with Weidman, adding, “My challenge now is English. With the opponent, I’ll worry about the weather.”

Silva said that he is starting to work with a tutor to become more versed in the English language.

“As I am away from preparation, it is giving me time to the classes, but it is a challenge,” Silva said. “My teachers are getting heavy. It is important to learn English to inspire people who come from the same place as me. English will serve the rest of my life because I live in Los Angeles. My children speak English and I suffer with it.”

Silva may be acting like he isn’t taking Weidman seriously, but he knows better than to enter a bout at less-than 100-percent focus. He likely did that against Chael Sonnen the first time around, and was pushed to his limits.

Photo credit: Esther Lin/MMA Fighting

Chris Weidman made an apology to UFC president Dana White after it was confirmed that he would meet UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva.

Weidman, who will seek to end the long run of Silva at UFC 162 in July, told the UFC boss sorry.

I talked to Chris Weidman myself and he looked me right in the eye and said, ‘I apologize that I’m going to (expletive) up your super fights and be your next champion. What I will do for you is I’ll give him an immediate rematch in Madison Square Garden as soon as he loses.’

The UFC is working to get MMA legalized in New York, and has stated that could hold a show there later this year if the law gets passed. Weidman has said several times before that he would grant Silva a rematch in MSG after the first fight.

Cockiness is nothing new for fighters, so to hear Weidman talk about beating “The Spider” months out from the scheduled bout isn’t too shocking.

What do you think? Does “The All-American” have the skills to dethrone Silva? Or will he just become another victim like Chael Sonnen, Yushin Okami, Dan Henderson and others?

UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre will face Nick Diaz this coming Saturday night at UFC 158.

While talk of a GSP-Anderson Silva super-fight continues to make waves, the Canadian doesn’t believe “The Spider” will survive his next title defense.

Silva is scheduled to meet Chris Weidman this July at UFC 162 from Las Vegas. Weidman is undefeated and coming off a win over Mark Munoz last year.

“I believe he’s going to beat Anderson Silva,” said St-Pierre to SportsNet. “I believe it’s a bad matchup for Anderson Silva. It’s very bad. Not only is he going to beat him, I believe he’s going to finish Anderson Silva. I believe it’s not going to be too long, that fight. People will be shocked.”

Weidman pushed hard for a title fight with Silva, claiming he deserved the match. The Brazilian was against it at first, but appears to have changed his stance.

Do you agree with GSP? Can “The All-American” stop the run of Silva in the middleweight division?

The upcoming UFC middleweight title fight between Anderson Silva and Chris Weidman isn’t as much of a lopsided affair – in Las Vegas, the betting capital of the world – as most might have thought.

Silva, who sports a career record of 33-4, is a minute-215 favorite. His challenger, Weidman (9-0), comes in at plus-165, according to MMAOddsbreaker.com.

What does that mean? Well, to win a $100 on Silva, you would have to bet 215. If you bet $100 on Weidman, you would win an addition $165.

The “narrow” difference between the odds is the closest for Silva since his fight in 2009 – which came at light heavyweight, and against an ex-champion. As far as 185 pounds goes, you have to go all the way back to UFC 82 and Dan Henderson to find close odds.

Since becoming champion in the division, “The Spider” has defeated the likes of Rich Franklin (twice), Nate Marquardt, Henderson, Griffin, Demian Maia, Yushin Okami and Chael Sonnen (twice).

Regardless of the odds, Silva and Weidman will meet at UFC 162 on July 6 from Las Vegas.

Photo credit: Esther Lin/MMA Fighting