UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman will likely require surgery on both knees, forcing him out of his UFC 173 championship bout with Lyoto Machida.

“The All-American” is now expected to meet Machida at UFC 175, the UFC’s annual Fourth of July weekend pay-per-view, roughly six weeks after UFC 173.

UFC.com reported the scheduling change, while FOX Sports reported that Weidman would probably opt for minor surgery on both knees.

“Weidman's coach Ray Longo told FOX Sports that the champion has faced ongoing issues with the meniscus that was always bound to end up in surgery, but that he had put it off as long as he could,” wrote reporter Mike Chiapetta.

“Recently however, the meniscus popped out twice in the span of a week, necessitating more medical attention.”

Additional details state that the undefeated (11-0) New Yorker should only need four to six weeks to recover from the procedure.

Machida, a former UFC light heavyweight champion, is 2-0 at 185 pounds after a 3-3 run after losing the 205-pound strap.

Most recently, he won a hard-fought decision over ex-Strikeforce and DREAM titleholder Gegard Mousasi at UFC Fight Night 36 last month.

Vitor Belfort, who opted out of the UFC 173 main event after the Nevada State Athletic Commission banned testosterone replacement therapy, is still rumored to square off with the Weidman-Machida winner.