Highly regarded Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Roger Gracie has offered high praise for upcoming UFC middleweight title challenger Chris Weidman.
In an interview with ESPN, Gracie said Weidman’s grappling skills are elite, capable of submitting high-level black belts such as himself (Weidman received his brown belt in BJJ earlier this month).
"I think [Weidman] is very, very dangerous. His grappling is at a very high level. He can submit any world-class grappler,” Gracie said.
“I think he’s really that good. He can tap anyone, even me. It’s just a matter of if he can put Anderson in those situations. I would still put my money on Anderson but I think Chris Weidman is dangerous and can surprise him.”
Gracie, a BJJ black belt since 2003, has a 6-1 record as a professional mixed martial artist after winning countless medals on the grappling scene.
A Strikeforce import, Gracie makes his Octagon debut against Tim Kennedy at UFC 162. Weidman fights Anderson Silva for the middleweight strap in the headlining bout of the same pay-per-view event.
Weidman was a two-time All-American wrestler at Hofstra University before taking up BJJ in 2009.
He has since rattled off a perfect 9-0 record inside the cage and looks to hand Silva his first loss under the UFC banner in 17 fights with the company.
Despite being one of the most dominant fighters to ever enter the Octagon, many fighters have endorsed Weidman in one way or another leading up to the title fight.
Will Weidman shock the world and finish Silva or will “The Spider” once again prove why he is one of the greatest of all time?