Usman undergoes hand surgery, will be ready to fight by July

UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman underwent hand surgery Monday, but will be ready to fight by the beginning of July, his manager told ESPN's Marc Raimondi.

Usman had the procedure to repair a ligament, according to UFC president Dana White, who posted photos of the champion's hand on Twitter.

Usman last defended his belt in November, defeating Colby Covington via unanimous decision in the UFC 268 headliner. He said afterward he broke his hand three weeks before the bout.

The UFC's pound-for-pound king is expected to meet Leon Edwards in his next title defense. The UFC hasn't announced a date for the fight, though July 2 could be an option as the promotion celebrates International Fight Week.

Usman, 34, has defended the 170-pound title five times since beating Tyron Woodley for it in March 2019.

The promotion has title fights lined up through UFC 274 in May.