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Weidman: Anderson Silva isn't a superhero

Chris Weidman is undefeated in nine fights © Getty Images

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Chris Weidman has brushed aside the potential impact of Anderson Silva's fear factor in their forthcoming title fight, and questioned the Brazilian's attitude after his recent media fail.

Weidman challenges for the UFC middleweight championship when he meets Silva at UFC 162 on July 6. He does so knowing he is facing the greatest mixed martial artist to have graced the Octagon.

Silva has won all 16 of his UFC bouts, holding all manner of records for his dominance of the 185lb weight class. Weidman is considered by some as cannon fodder, but others - like Georges St-Pierre - are tipping him to pull off the upset in Las Vegas.

Certainly Weidman has the natural size, power and wrestling capability to pose a threat to the champion, and the American insists he will not freeze when his big moment arrives.

"You have to treat him like just another opponent," Weidman told Yahoo! Sports. "You respect what he's done in this sport. Of course you do. But you can't get caught up in it.

"Guess what? He's a person just like I am, he's got two arms, two legs, two eyes, like I do. I'm not fighting a superhero, I'm fighting another person, and it's my job to defeat him. Simple as that."

Silva was recently criticised for missing a media event to promote the bout in Los Angeles. The champion later insisted it was a genuine oversight, but Weidman questioned whether leading lights of other sports would have acted the same way.

"At the end of the day, it's not that big a deal," Weidman said. "It happens to everyone, you have your bad days.

"But still, I can't imagine skipping out on something like that. Do you think LeBron James would do something like that to the fans?"

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.