Former UFC champion didn’t receive full purse after last-minute UFC 309 fight cancelation… ‘Why do you guys keep that money and I don’t?’

Earlier this month, former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman was set to make his homecoming in New York when he fought Eryk Anders at the blockbuster UFC 309 event.

Since joining the UFC in 2011, Chris Weidman has fought just twice in his home state of New York, losing both times.

'The All-American' hoped to right his wrongs at UFC 309 when he was set to face Eryk Anders in a big fight in the middleweight division.

Unfortunately, just hours before their fight, the UFC broadcast team announced that Anders had withdrawn from the fight due to medical issues, leaving Weidman “crushed.”

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Chris Weidman describes an encounter he had with Eryk Anders the day after UFC 309

Although the reason for Anders' withdrawal was not stated at the time, it was revealed shortly afterwards that the 37-year-old was suffering from food poisoning.

Weidman admitted that he saw Anders at the battle hotel a day later and “Ya Boi” gave him some information about what happened.

“I actually saw him the next day, I saw him walking around the hotel lobby and stuff, so we talked a little bit. Apparently, he and I don't know if it's his teammate or a guy managed by the same management company (Marcus McGhee), he also got food poisoning and fought,” Weidman began explaining on The Ariel Helwani Show.

Marcus McGhee also competed on the UFC 309 card, where he scored a unanimous decision victory against Jonathan Martinez.

“I think they went to the same place, the same Italian place in New York and ended up getting food poisoning and McGhee's might not have been that bad, I don't know, but anyway he was able to fight and Anders couldn't do it,” Weidman continued.

Chris Weidman reveals he didn't receive his full fight purse for UFC 309

While it wasn't the former middleweight champion who pulled out of the fight, Weidman has revealed that he did not receive his full fight purse despite being committed and ready to fight.

“They're going to take care of me, they're going to do something for me, I'm not going to get my full purse (from UFC 309), I'm going to put that out there, which is tough, you show up (and take care of weight).

“My show money is my winnings money, I'm guaranteed money so that was my point, I showed up, you guys had that budgeted to begin with, you had a great night, why are you keeping that money and I'm not? That was my thought,” Weidman said.

The fight between Weidman and Anders has now been moved to UFC 310 on December 7 and will take place at a catchweight of 195lbs.

However, Weidman has admitted that the promotion tried to keep him on the UFC 309 card until the last minute, and that they were looking for 205 pounders in the area who could step in within hours.

“They also said that they were looking for another opponent for me all day. They were looking for 205lbers who had fought that day or anyone else in the area trying to pull off one of those Dan Ige type situations.

“Apparently the New York commission wasn't going to allow anything on such short notice, so that stopped that,” Weidman revealed.

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