Having previously reached dizzy heights in his UFC career so far, Chris Weidman has more recently had to deal with a host of damaging setbacks.

The popular American made his UFC debut back 2011 and went on a rampaging run through the organisation, winning an impressive nine straight fights before tasting his maiden defeat in December 2015 at the hands of Luke Rockhold.

Weidman’s career-defining performance came in July 2013 at UFC 162 in Las Vegas, as he became the first fighter ever to beat the legendary Anderson Silva within the UFC.

The New Yorker caught the Brazilian MMA icon with a thunderous shot while he had been trying to avoid advances in typically flashy style, with his knockout success being awarded the ‘KO of the Night’ in Nevada.

That incredible win also saw Weidman crowned as the UFC middleweight champion of the world, capping off what was already an admirable career to that point.

Following that stoppage success, more drama unfolded in a rematch in December 2013, with Silva having to be stopped once again after sustaining a horrific leg break during their intriguing second scuffle in the Octagon.

Chris Weidman at the weigh in for UFC 131 by Peter Gordon (CC BY 2.0)

The now 33-year-old then went on to defend his middleweight crown a further two times, racking up a superb three title defences within the UFC.

That run of his lasted two and a half years as he recorded strong wins over both Lyoto Machida and Vitor Belfort, following the rematch success against ‘Spider’ Silva.

What followed after such esteemed success were three straight sickening defeats for the former middleweight champion.

In a tough clash with Rockhold, Weidman was completely outgunned by the Californian before being stopped in the fourth round of their match-up from a flurry of shots.

After that loss, Weidman gained the opportunity to claim revenge in a rematch with Rockhold, who had taken the 185lbs belt away from him, but an injury forced the bout to be called off.

The defiant middleweight eventually returned a year later in his home city to collide with fierce challenger Yoel Romero, but it was another unsuccessful night as he was brutally knocked out by the Cuban wrecking ball from a massive flying knee to the head.

Another short break followed and then a clash with Gegard Mousasi in April of this year in New York, but once again his night ended in a devastating KO defeat.

Despite three solid KO losses in a row, Weidman is continuing to fight back and will next take on Californian southpaw Kelvin Gastelum on July 22nd at Long Island, New York. In light of his recent form, Weidman enters as the narrow underdog at +110 with a number of online bookmakers that users can visit.

Will the home hope be able to finally bounce back this time out in the Octagon?

A fourth straight defeat could see his career ultimately derailed in the UFC and yet another KO loss would cause him to think long-term about his health in the sport.

The pair’s July battle will headline a card also featuring some tasty tussles between Dennis Bermudez and Darren Elkins and Patrick Cummins versus Gian Villante.

But it’s Weidman who will once again be the star attraction, as he attempts to bounce back from a trio of damaging defeats on home territory.