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Weidman out of Belfort bout after cracking hand

Chris Weidman will be out for up to six weeks with a hairline fracture injury in his hand © Getty Images

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A hairline fracture in his hand has forced UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman to withdraw from a scheduled title defence against Vitor Belfort at UFC 181 on December 6 in Las Vegas.

The bout has been postponed to February, according to UFC CEO Lorenzo Fertitta. A specific date and location have yet to be determined.

Weidman is expected to be in a cast for four weeks and cleared for contact in six weeks, according to UFC president Dana White.

A welterweight title bout and rematch between champion Johny Hendricks and Robbie Lawler will now headline the UFC 181 pay-per-view event, which will take place at Mandalay Bay Events Center.

Earlier this month, Hendricks' manager, Ted Ehrhardt, told ESPN that Hendricks had recovered from a right bicep injury, which required surgery in March. Although Hendricks (16-2) was ready to accept a fight, Ehrhardt said a return this year was unlikely, as the UFC had already booked its major shows.

Hendricks captured the title in a unanimous decision against Lawler at UFC 171 on March 15 in Dallas. He fought Georges St-Pierre for the title last November and suffered a controversial split-decision loss.

Lawler (24-10) catapulted himself back into title contention by defeating Jake Ellenberger and Matt Brown in a four-month span after coming up short against Hendricks in March. Lawler, 32, is 5-1 since re-joining the UFC in early 2013, with three knockouts.

For Weidman, it means the 30-year-old will close 2014 with just one appearance. He successfully defended the 185-pound title for a second time at UFC 175 in July, via a unanimous decision against Lyoto Machida.

UFC 181 also will feature a co-main event lightweight title fight between Anthony Pettis and Gilbert Melendez.

This article originally appeared on ESPN.com

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