UFC champ Chris Weidman tweets post-surgery picture, says procedure 'a success'

UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman went under the knife on Tuesday, then reported his procedure was “a success.”

Weidman needed minor surgery on both knees, and he tweeted a thumbs-up picture from his Instagram account late Tuesday night.

In March, the 185-pound titleholder was forced out of his scheduled title defense against Lyoto Machida at next month’s UFC 173 card. Instead, he’ll defend his title against the former light heavyweight champion in the main event of UFC 175 in July.

UFC 175 is set for July 5 at Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on FOX Sports 1 and UFC Fight Pass.

“Thanks for all the prayers and well wishes. Surgery was a success!” Weidman said on Instagram and Twitter.

Weidman (11-0 MMA, 7-0 UFC) was originally supposed to fight Vitor Belfort (24-10 MMA, 13-6 UFC) in the UFC 173 main event. But when the Nevada State Athletic Commission banned testosterone-replacement therapy, Belfort was removed from the card so he could have ample time for his body to adjust to a career with it. Instead, Machida (21-4 MMA, 13-4 UFC) was inserted into the title fight, which will be just his third bout at middleweight.

Weidman this past July knocked out longtime middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva to win the title. Then in December, he defended it when Silva broke his leg when Weidman checked a kick – one of the most gruesome injuries in MMA history.

For the latest on UFC 175, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

view original article >>