Former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman is honoring his father-in-law by establishing a brand new scholarship fund to assist wrestlers obtain their desires.
Vincent Pecora, who first turned acquainted with Weidman when he was only a seventh-grade wrestler, tragically died just lately after he was struck by a car whereas crossing the road. Pecora was on his option to go to his son-in-law, who was coaching in New York.
Weidman posted the information on social media, paying tribute to Pecora and the super affect his father-in-law had on his life.
“The previous few weeks have been very robust for my household and me as my father-in-law acquired hit by a automotive and was in vital situation combating for his life till his physique finally gave out after 5 days,” Weidman wrote on Instagram. “Vinny, like he’s completed day by day for 10 plus years, was crossing the road heading to our health club to say good day and present help when he realized he forgot his masks; he made a rapid flip to move again to his automotive and acquired struck by a truck. Full accident however downright tragic. For 5 days, he fought a battle and finally it turned an excessive amount of.
“Pops has been in my life since seventh grade, which occurs to be the identical day I met his daughter and finally my wife-to-be. It was my first wrestling camp, Granby camp in Virginia. I didn’t know on the time, however he would find yourself being a large a part of my life. Many of the offseason tournaments and camps, it was Pops that was driving us. He got here to all my wrestling matches from Junior excessive to varsity. Pops by no means missed one in all my fights as he turned an integral a part of my life.”
Within the wake of his father-in-law’s passing, Weidman and his household have now started a memorial scholarship fund in Pecora’s title to assist up and coming wrestlers discover alternatives in faculty.
“In his honor we want to arrange the Vincent J. Pecora Jr. Scholarship Basis,” an announcement learn on a GoFundMe set as much as fund the scholarship. “He could not be bodily with us, however his love and help will at all times be right here. To maintain his reminiscence alive, we’ll proceed to help younger wrestlers of their pursuit of upper schooling.
“All we ask in return is that anybody who knew him proceed to talk his title, inform his tales, and share their information, ideas and phrases of encouragement with each other. It takes a village to make an excellent wrestler and we hope to proceed his legacy and prolong his affect to future generations of wrestlers.”
Weidman, who was a Division I All-American wrestler whereas competing at Hofstra College, is anticipated to return to motion at UFC 261 in April for a rematch towards Uriah Hall after their initially scheduled bout was scrapped when the previous champion was identified with COVID-19.
