Dana White: Chris Weidman wants Vitor Belfort title fight in May, pending results of MRI on injured knee

Chris Weidman wants to take the summer off.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight champion is looking to make his next title defense in May, most likely in the main event of the promotion's annual Memorial Day Weekend extravaganza, when he takes on Vitor Belfort with the 185-pound strap on the line.

There's just one problem.

Weidman has yet to be cleared for competition following his UFC 168 win over Anderson Silva, which took place last month in Las Vegas, Nevada. "All American" was dealing with knee issues in training camp and could require a scope before returning to action.

Which is why UFC President Dana White (via Wednesday night's UFC Fight Night 35 media scrum) is taking a wait-and-see approach:

"We like both (May and July), so we're gonna see what happens with him. But like I said, we're waiting for that MRI. He wants a real summer. He said he wants to have a real summer with his family, and when you live back east, I don't blame you."

Summer in the Hamptons?

After winning the middleweight title -- then keeping it -- in consecutive bouts against "The Spider," Weidman will move on to the next chapter in his combat sport career. That includes a five-rounder against "The Phenom," who rocketed back to the top of the rankings (see them here) with three stunning knockout victories against top-shelf competition.

But that was in Brazil.

Now it's time to see if Belfort can replicate those performances in stateside competition, specifically Las Vegas, where his testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) may or may not be allowed to take place. All bets are off now that Keith Kizer has resigned from the Nevada State Athletic Commission (more on that here).

Lots of moving parts here Maniacs ... stay tuned.