UFC Contender Chris Weidman Undergoes Successful Surgery, Eyes Early 2013 Return

UFC CONTENDER CHRIS WEIDMAN UNDERGOES SUCCESSFUL SURGERY, EYES EARLY 2013 RETURN
BY MMAJUNKIE.COM STAFF ON NOV 29, 2012 AT 6:50 PM ET

Chris Weidman underwent successful shoulder surgery on Wednesday and plans to be back at full speed in four months.

The top UFC middleweight contender said surgeons fixed a torn labrum and rotator cuff, an AC joint separation and a slight ligament tear.

"I will be 90 percent in three months and 100 in four!" he tweeted.

Weidman (9-0 MMA, 5-0 UFC) had hoped a dominant win over Mark Munoz earlier this year would earn him a shot at UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva's title. But Silva instead beat Stephan Bonnar in a non-title light-heavyweight headliner at UFC 153 in October and he then expressed interest in a superfight with welterweight champ Georges St-Pierre.

Weidman then was booked to fight fellow contender Tim Boetsch at the year-end UFC 155 event. However, the fighter, who had already lost his New York home to Hurricane Sandy, was forced to pull out of the event this past week due to the shoulder injury.

Weidman, a two-time NCAA Division I All-American wrestler who's undefeated since making his pro MMA debut in 2009, said he's going to make good use of his recovery time.

"I am gonna make it my life mission to come back better then ever," he wrote. "Can't wait to get back in that @ufc octagon."