After UFC Fight Night 29, Rousimar Palhares earned the heel hook submission victory early in the first minute of the first round over Mike Pierce, but was later cut from the organization for holding the dangerous submission long past the point of Pierce tapping and even the referee interfering.
While Palhares has the opportunity to ply his trade in another organization, the lingering question was the medical status of Pierce.
On Thursday after receiving MRI results, Pierce gave MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani an update on his medical condition.
“Sprained MCL and an almost completely torn ligament on the outside of my left ankle,” Pierce said via text message. “[Doctor] says I should be feeling a lot better in 2-3 weeks and that I shouldn’t need surgery. But to check back in with him at that 2-3 week point.”
The heel hook is one of the more dangerous finishes in submission grappling because of the twisting pressure it simultaneously applies to both the knee and ankle as well as the speed with which it can cause serious damage.
Palhares, a heel hook specialist, was previously suspended by the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board in 2010 for holding the same submission too long against Tomasz Drwal at UFC 111.