BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman doesn't often watch movies. But when he does, they have a profound impact on him.
Or at least one did. Weidman, who will face Gegard Mousasi at UFC 210 on Saturday inside KeyBank Center, says he was randomly watching "Rocky III" during camp -- and it really got him thinking.
In early scenes, Rocky Balboa is the rags-to-riches boxing champion. A celebrity. His trainer, Mickey, tells Rocky behind closed doors that he has become "civilized" and lost his fighting edge.
"I'm watching it and it just hits me: 'Is that me?'" Weidman said. "He's living in a nice house, got the family, everything is nicer. I started in my parents' basement. I had nothing. I was picking the mouthpiece off the floor. I was in a 'Rocky I' looking gym. Dirty, old gym with no lockers. That's where I grew from.
"In the pit of my stomach I said, 'Man, I can't believe this might be me.' I turned to my wife and said, 'Maybe I should go to my parents and see if I can stay in their basement the rest of camp.'"
It almost sounds like a joke, but he was serious. After starting his MMA career at 13-0 and defeating the great Anderson Silva twice, Weidman is coming off back-to-back knockout defeats to Luke Rockhold and Yoel Romero.
After a brief discussion with his wife, Weidman had her on board with the idea. She huddled up their three children and left, so the kids wouldn't see Weidman with the suitcase.
"I literally packed for Buffalo," Weidman said. "I was going to go straight from my parents' [house] to Buffalo. As I'm leaving, I stop for a second and had this moment of clarity. I realized, 'No, I can't do this.'
"I had an emotional breakdown. I started tearing up. I got to the top with my family."
Weidman, 32, didn't leave the house, but he did make some changes.
His house on Long Island, New York, has a spare bedroom that is attached to the garage. Weidman describes it as a "plain" room with almost nothing in it.
Instead of leaving completely, Weidman essentially moved into the guest room of his own residence. He was still there for his family, but spent a large amount of time in solitude.
"It's almost like a separate apartment," Weidman said. "I took my bag and put it in there. That's where I've been sleeping. If I want to see my kids, I see them -- but I sit in my room and read books."
What effect the changes will have on Weidman's performance this weekend is hard to say.
Similar to Rocky, Weidman is looking to re-establish his edge against one of the best opponents he could face. Mousasi (41-6-2), is on four-fight win streak and specifically asked for the fight. After a down year in 2016, Weidman could use a Hollywood moment in his home state at UFC 210.