Dana White believes victory over Vitor Belfort will launch Chris Weidman to stardom

Weidman (photo) is the UFC middleweight champion. Photo: Disclosure

Anderson Silva He was already UFC champion in 2006, but it took a while for him to gain star status beyond the sport. The big change came in 2011, when he spectacularly knocked out Vitor belfort in the struggle that stopped the country. From then on, “Spider” became a celebrity. And, for UFC president, Dana White, the same could happen with the current middleweight belt holder, Chris Weidman.

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Weidman, UFC champion since 2013, is coming off a victory over Belfort, whom he defeated by technical knockout at UFC 187, last Saturday (23). The North American still doesn't have much media appeal, but White believes that the last fight could change this scenario.

"This takes time. See the time Anderson Silva It took him to become known. He exploded after beating Vitor, so maybe Vitor is helping to make these guys take off”, analyzed White, in an interview with the official UFC website.

Weidman won the belt precisely in victory over Anderson Silva, in July 2013, with a surprising knockout. After that, he defended the belt three more times, three against Brazilians: he beat Anderson again in December of the same year, overcame Lyoto Machida in July 2014 and, most recently, beat Belfort.

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