See You This Summer ... Maybe

I’m happy to report that both Waldo and Carmen Sandiego have finally been found. As for former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight champion Chris Weidman?

Yeah, I got nothin’.

Weidman (14-3) has been out of action since last July, and probably won’t return to mixed martial arts (MMA) until later this summer. That’s because “All American” is recovering from thumb surgery, a process that is taking much longer than expected.

It stems from a very “unique” injury.

“I’m hoping in the next six weeks my health will turn around and I can get a couple training sessions in, get confidence in it that I can use it and then get something booked,” Weidman told MMAjunkie Radio. “I would hope something in the early summer, but the injury I had is pretty serious. Obviously I want to get back to that title fight, and whoever I’ve got to fight to get there, I’m willing to do it.”

So much for this.

Prior to having his hand reconstructed, Weidman was flirting with a Jacare Souza fight, one that eventually went to fellow contender Kelvin Gastelum. They’ll do the deed at the UFC 224 pay-per-view (PPV) event this May in Brazil.

Fortunately for Weidman, he’s currently ranked No. 4 in the division, which continues to search for its identity after burning through a couple of big names in the past few months. As it stands, Robert Whittaker and Yoel Romero will collide for “The Reaper’s” middleweight strap.

Leaving Michael Bisping, Luke Rockhold, and even Derek Brunson as potential options.