UNIONDALE, NY - JULY 22: Chris Weidman waits backstage during the UFC Fight Night event inside the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on July 22, 2017 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

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Former UFC Middleweight Champion Chris Weidman prepares to face another procedure to repair his left thumb.

This past September, former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman (14-3, 10-3 UFC) underwent a procedure to repair damage in his thumb, which required moving several ligaments from his wrist to his injured limb.

The entire procedure took place after Weidman’s third round submission victory over Kelvin Gastelum at UFC on FOX 25 in July 2017.

Speaking on the Slip ‘n Dip Podcast, Weidman, the No. 4 middleweight division in the UFC’s official rankings, revealed an update on his current situation.

“I’ve been on the sidelines, I’ve had some great opportunities offered and I wasn’t able to take them because I was trying to get the hand better,” said Weidman. “I pretty much found out that it’s not going to get better, that I need to get another surgery.”

While original procedure on his wrist and thumb took place in September, Weidman expects to return to action this summer. Unfortunately, the healing process has not gone as planned and he will have to go under the knife again nearly seven months after the first procedure to repair the remaining damage, subsequently delaying his return to action even further.

“I’m getting another surgery in about a week and a half, and it’s going to be about a two to three-month recovery,” said Weidman.

Throughout the process, Weidman has been keeping himself in phenomenal shape according to family member and regular training partner Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson.

Thompson, who is preparing to face Darren Till in the main event of UFC Liverpool on May 27, said that Weidman had to dial back his training as he prepares for the second surgery.

Staying in fight shape will not only help Weidman’s recovery from the second procedure but also shows he is truly itching to get back into the Octagon to get his hand raised against another top-ranked opponent as soon as he is cleared by doctors.

“Then I should be good to go. It’s been a tough last eight months,” Weidman said with a hint of frustration.

At the end of the recovery window for the second procedure, Weidman will be approaching just shy of a year from his last walk to cage. He hopes to get back to action as soon as possible to build upon his win over Gastelum and continue his climb to another title shot.

The delay to Weidman’s return is another unfortunate occurrence among the UFC’s middleweight top fifteen contenders, which is currently filled with uncertainty at the top of the division for various reasons.