Weidman (photo via UFC.com)

By Joshua Molina

Everybody’s a big shot until they get hit in the face.

That may be a lesson Chris Weidman will have to learn sooner rather than later.

Weidman will battle UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva on July 6. In a recently published report, Weidman said that he is a “nightmare matchup for Anderson.” Weidman is 9-0 and the No. 1 contender. Silva is 33-4 and regarded as pound-for-pound the best mixed martial artist in the world.

It’s great that Weidman has confidence going in there against Silva, but he ought to be careful not to overlook the talented champion. He has a way of knocking out and submitting fighters, even if he loses every round – just ask Chael Sonnen.

It’s true that Silva has benefited from fighting sparingly, and then fighting guys that in the last few years that didn’t pose a real threat to him. But Weidman shouldn’t be so confident going in there with a guy who even UFC Light-Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones says is the best MMA fighter on the planet.

. . .  Speaking of top middleweights, Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza will fight on May 18 on FX against Chris Camozzi, who replaces Costa Philippou, forced out by a cut. Souza, the former Strikeforce Middleweight Champion, is a dangerous fighter who beat Tim Kennedy for the vacant title after Cung Le left for Hollywood. Souza lost to former Strikeforce middleweight champ Luke Rockhold.

Souza should be in the UFC title picture very soon if he puts together a couple of victories.

. . .  Here’s something to think about. Floyd Mayweather Jr. will step inside the ring Saturday night to fight Roberto Guerrero, in a big-time boxing match. Mayweather will defend his welterweight championship against Guerrero. Mayweather, who is undefeated, will earn $32 million for his performance, win or lose. He will earn millions more from the Pay Per View buy rate.

For years now people have been saying that boxing is dead, but Mayweather is bigger than any UFC star will ever be and makes a lot more money. Jon Jones, the light-heavyweight champ, earned $400,000 for defending against Chael Sonnen last weekend. He will earn more from Pay Per View buys.

With such a huge gap in salaries, for shows that should do comparable Pay Per View buy rates (the Mayweather fight will probably top 1.1. million), where’s all the UFC money going?