Chris Weidman

Uses the root-beer idiom plus 'I would rather stay away,' and discloses that Anders is one of his favorite fighters and he is biased toward him.

A grizzled veteran with underrated striking, a functional jab, and real pop on his punches, but primarily a wrestler who looks for solid takedowns and top control. Durability concerns from a past, specific in-competition injury are discussed only in past tense and excluded from this record (see review_flags). Likely wins the exchange on top if he gets the fight down, though Anders is not a bad grappler either.

States directly that Anders wins this one as the better fighter with more left in reserve; a disclosed personal fondness for Anders follows but is fan-bias disclosure, not a hedge on the outcome.

Described as a seasoned veteran: an unspectacular but serviceable striker (useful jab, modest pop; accidental eye-pokes noted in passing). His wrestling is a stronger asset -- he gets the fight down and controls well from the top. The analyst frames the matchup as a question of which man has more left physically and who shows up with fresh tools versus a diminished game.

He states directly that Silva wins at a pretty high clip, explicitly calling it a reasonable rather than a crazy claim, with no hedge on the outcome.

Weidman has the clear edge in wrestling and top-level control between these two, and the analyst thinks he can win a decision if he gets takedowns early and often. His striking is only decent -- a nice jab and some power -- and he is expected to be outmatched standing with Silva. At 39, with no recent win and his last two notable victories well in the past, the analyst raises the possibility this is a retirement fight.

Says plainly he feels obligated to pick Tavares given Weidman's long layoff, his recent leg injury, and a bad stylistic matchup against elite counter-wrestling, despite admitting part of him wants a storybook Weidman win.

Chris Weidman is graded a solid wrestler -- solid takedowns and strong top control -- with decent striking built around a nice jab and some power. He is 39, coming off a two-year layoff, and still working back from a severe leg injury in his last outing. The analyst calls this likely his retirement fight and does not expect his wrestling-heavy approach to work against an elite counter-wrestler.