Calling All Cans! Weidman Looking For ‘Tune-Up Fight’

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Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight champion Chris Weidman, who recently jumped to the light heavyweight division (and got knocked out for his efforts), is no longer interested in fighting the best in the world.

Instead, the 14-5 “All American” wants to compete in a tune-up fight before attempting to avenge his loss to Luke Rockhold at some point in late 2020. Assuming his longtime nemesis (and part-time grappler) would be interested in making his way back to the cage.

“Rockhold, I’d like to fight him but not this next fight, I’ll take a tune-up fight,” Weidman told MMA and Beyond podcast (via The Body Lock). “I still think he’s good. Obviously, people say he doesn’t have a chin anymore but they say that about me too. I still think he’s a tough opponent. I haven’t had a tune-up fight in my career. My last 11 or 12 guys are top five in the world. I’ve been [in] main events and on the main card since my first fight in the UFC.”

Weidman, 35, lost his middleweight title to Rockhold (also 35) at UFC 194 back in late 2015 and his career has been a complete train wreck in the years that followed, getting torched by Yoel Romero and Ronaldo Souza, among others, along the way.

Rockhold (16-5) hasn’t fared much better. After coughing up his crown to Michael Bisping at UFC 199 in June 2016, the former Strikeforce champ — who doesn’t sound like he’s in any hurry to compete — is a measly 1-2, losing both fights by way of knockout.

Anyone still interested in Rockhold vs. Weidman 2 at this point?