When was the last time you saw anybody lose a championsip belt via decision in a close fight? Lyoto knows this himself; he benefitted from it when he got the decision over Rua in their first fight.
I sometimes wonder if Sonnen would have got the nod if he had evaded the triangle from Silva. Only two I can recall offhand were Benson over Edgar and before that Edgar over Penn.
So Lyoto can forget about point fighting strategies. He will more than likely lose the grappling aspect, and even if he outstrikes Weidman, anything that is in the realm of a close fight will go toward Weidman.
So that leaves him knocking Chris out or submitting him.
Given that, I would say being a 2:1 underdog doesn't sound unrealistic.
Thoughts?