Chris Weidman couldn’t have started his mixed martial arts career any better than he did.
The Long Island native and former Hofstra University wrestling standout put together a 4-0 record in the New Jersey-based Ring of Combat promotion from 2009-10. Three of those four victories came by way of stoppage and before he knew it, he received the ever so coveted call from the UFC.
The circumstances surrounding that call from the UFC, however, weren’t exactly ideal. Needing a replacement for an injured Rafael Natal, the UFC was looking for Weidman to take on Alessio Sakara on just two weeks’ notice at UFC on Versus 3 in March 2011.