Just 17 seconds into his fight against Uriah Hall at UFC 261, Chris Weidman threw a kick towards Hall’s leg and appeared to seriously injure himself as his right leg bent unnaturally around Hall’s left leg. The fight was immediately stopped, and a quiet fell on the crowd at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville.
Weidman was placed on a stretcher and wheeled out of the arena. It was a moment eerily reminiscent of Weidman’s middleweight championship fight against Anderson Silva at UFC 168 back in December 2013, when Silva suffered a similar-looking injury on a similar-looking kick.
Hall shared his concerns for Weidman after the fight.
“I’ve got nothing but respect for Chris Weidman,” Hall said. “He’s truly one of the best. It’s a crazy story. That he was the first man I fought that defeated me [in 2010], that introduced me to fear. I didn’t know what fear was. Then we went different paths. He was the first person to defeat Anderson [in the UFC], and I was the last. It’s crazy how we ended up here again. I wanted to put on a great performance but man, I feel so bad. I hope he’s OK. I wish his family well.”
Those who weren’t in the arena on Saturday night took to Twitter in the immediate aftermath of that moment to share their thoughts and well wishes for Weidman as well.
Wishing all the best for Chris and his family 🙏🏾🙏🏾✊🏾✊🏾 #ufc261
— GILBERT BURNS DURINHO (@GilbertDurinho) April 25, 2021
This is horrible 😢
Unfortunate for Chris I hope he recover fast.#ufc261— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) April 25, 2021
@chrisweidman you a warrior everyone praying for you and all family 🙏🏻
— Marlon Moraes (@MMARLONMORAES) April 25, 2021
The man that broke Anderson Silva’s leg by checking a kick just broke his own leg by throwing a kick and getting it checked. Virtually exact same situation but reversed roles. This is MMA. Prayers out to The All-American. #UFC261
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) April 25, 2021
They out here acting like Mortal Kombat fr sheesh 🥴🤢🔥 #UFC261
— Flash (@JOSH_GORDONXII) April 25, 2021
What are the odds of being apart of the nastiest/ freakish of accidents in mma history TWICE !
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) April 25, 2021
Prayers for Weidman. The great character of Hall showing too. These fighters can never be paid too much, real life Gladiators. 🙏🙏 #UFC261 @chrisweidman
— Teddy Atlas (@TeddyAtlasReal) April 25, 2021
Ooook let’s all agree right now to make a gentleman’s agreement: no more leg kicks. Aight cool. Good talk.
— Andre Fili (@TouchyFili) April 25, 2021
Horrible injury for Weidman. I hated watching it. Speedy recovery!! #UFC261 #UFC
— Roxanne Modafferi (@Roxyfighter) April 25, 2021
Damn hope @chrisweidman is ok, Heart goes out to him and his family.
— Frankie Edgar (@FrankieEdgar) April 25, 2021
I have no words.. I hope the leg can heal up 100% 🙏🏾. Damn.
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) April 25, 2021