Jasmin Frank-USA TODAY Sports
An emotional Karolina Kowalkiewicz speaks up after the beating she took at UFC Auckland against Yan Xiaonan.
UFC Auckland was a brutal night for Karolina Kowalkiewicz. The former strawweight title challenger was dominated by Yan Xiaonan in the co-main event as she slides to her fourth consecutive loss.
What made matters worse for Kowalkiewicz was her right eye, which was already problematic in the first round. As it turns out, the 34-year-old Polish fighter had broken her orbital bone.
In a post-fight statement she released through an Instagram story, an emotional Kowalkiewicz also admitted that she wasn’t in a good place.
Karolina Kowalkiewicz: “First time in my life, after fight, I cannot say I’m OK.” (via @KarolinaMMA) pic.twitter.com/5sAayzKykI
— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) February 23, 2020
“Hi guys, thank you for your support,” she said (via MMA Mania). “First time in my life after fight, I cannot say I’m OK.
“Like you see, in the beginning of first round I have broken small [orbital] bone here. I couldn’t see nothing. My vision was double and everything was like in the fog.”
Kowalkiewicz went on to reveal that she will need to undergo surgery.
“After the fight, I spent all day in hospital,” she said. “Today, I am going to specialist and they going to make decision because I need operation. And I’m waiting for decision here or I go back to Poland and make this operation in Poland. But doctors said I have to say here because flying with this eye is very dangerous.”
Currently ranked at the number 14 spot in the official rankings, Kowalkiewicz dropped to a record of 12-6 (with three wins by stoppage).