Tag: Injuries

Rashad Evans Out of Action for Six Months Due to Knee Surgery


(“I’m just a simple cage-fighter. Your ball-and-racket sports frighten and confuse me…” Photo via SI/Getty)

The knee injury that bounced Rashad Evans out of UFC 170 last week will keep “Suga” sidelined for the majority of 2014. According to a statement posted on the Blackzilians website yesterday, the former UFC light-heavyweight champ will undergo knee surgery this week in Los Angeles with Dr. Ronald Kvitne (who you may remember from Cat Zingano’s video blogs). Evans is expected to be out of active training for six months.

“I am deeply disappointed to be missing the action at UFC 170, but I am, as always, incredibly grateful for the support of my family, friends, management, the UFC, and most of all my fans during this minor setback,” Evans stated. “Thank you for your continued messages of support. I’ll be back stronger than ever!”

“Minor setback”? Props to Rashad for keeping such a positive attitude, because we’d be punching a hole through every wall in the house if this happened to us. Evans has had a history of poorly-timed injuries, from the previous knee injury that robbed him of a title shot against Mauricio Rua in early 2011, to the thumb injury that postponed his title fight with Jon Jones later that year.

For a 34-year-old athlete with over a decade of professional competition under his belt, a six-month timeout seems like a major setback — especially with Evans on the verge of title contention once again. Damn. Get well soon, dude.


(“I’m just a simple cage-fighter. Your ball-and-racket sports frighten and confuse me…” Photo via SI/Getty)

The knee injury that bounced Rashad Evans out of UFC 170 last week will keep “Suga” sidelined for the majority of 2014. According to a statement posted on the Blackzilians website yesterday, the former UFC light-heavyweight champ will undergo knee surgery this week in Los Angeles with Dr. Ronald Kvitne (who you may remember from Cat Zingano’s video blogs). Evans is expected to be out of active training for six months.

“I am deeply disappointed to be missing the action at UFC 170, but I am, as always, incredibly grateful for the support of my family, friends, management, the UFC, and most of all my fans during this minor setback,” Evans stated. “Thank you for your continued messages of support. I’ll be back stronger than ever!”

“Minor setback”? Props to Rashad for keeping such a positive attitude, because we’d be punching a hole through every wall in the house if this happened to us. Evans has had a history of poorly-timed injuries, from the previous knee injury that robbed him of a title shot against Mauricio Rua in early 2011, to the thumb injury that postponed his title fight with Jon Jones later that year.

For a 34-year-old athlete with over a decade of professional competition under his belt, a six-month timeout seems like a major setback — especially with Evans on the verge of title contention once again. Damn. Get well soon, dude.

Glover Teixeira: Brain Injuries Usually Occur in the Gym, Not During Fights

Upcoming UFC light heavyweight title challenger Glover Teixeira believes that mixed martial artists suffer the majority of their brain injuries during training, as opposed to during scraps inside the cage.  Speaking one-on-one with MMA Fighting’s Luke Thomas, the Brazilian slugger expressed his opinion on the dangers of combat sports.  The way people train is the […]

Upcoming UFC light heavyweight title challenger Glover Teixeira believes that mixed martial artists suffer the majority of their brain injuries during training, as opposed to during scraps inside the cage.  Speaking one-on-one with MMA Fighting’s Luke Thomas, the Brazilian slugger expressed his opinion on the dangers of combat sports.  The way people train is the […]

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UFC 169 Medical Suspensions: 7 Fighters Suspended Indefinitely for Injuries

Seven UFC fighters received indefinite medical suspensions for the injuries they received Saturday at UFC 169. The list of suspensions, published by MMAWeekly, contained a total of 10 fighters who were hurt to one extent or another during their contests.   Middleweight Nick Catone (left knee), middleweight Tom Watson (right elbow), lightweight Al Iaquinta (right […]

Seven UFC fighters received indefinite medical suspensions for the injuries they received Saturday at UFC 169. The list of suspensions, published by MMAWeekly, contained a total of 10 fighters who were hurt to one extent or another during their contests.   Middleweight Nick Catone (left knee), middleweight Tom Watson (right elbow), lightweight Al Iaquinta (right […]

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Injury Updates: Pettis Hoping for Early July Return, Bisping Possibly Facing Additional Layoff

(via Fox Sports.)

Suffice it to say, the past couple years have been injury-plagued (or perhaps even, cursed) ones for the UFC, but especially so for the promotion’s champions and biggest stars. Dominick Cruz has been out of action since Eisenhower was in office, Jose Aldo fought just once in 2012, and Anderson Silva, Anthony Pettis, and Cain Velasquez have all undergone major surgeries recently. Jon Jones is arguably still recovering from his war with Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 165, as his next title fight with Glover Teixeira has been delayed some three times since initially being announced.

But not all is hopeless; Jones and Aldo both have their next fights lined up, and Cruz and Silva have either vacated their titles or been removed from the title picture, freeing up some space in their respective divisions. And Pettis, who underwent successful knee surgery back in November to fix a torn PCL suffered in his title-earning win over Ben Henderson at UFC 164, expects to be back in action just in time for the UFC’s annual Fourth of July card.

“The doctor said six to eight months, so I’m hoping six months,” Pettis told UFC Tonight yesterday evening. Unfortunately, Cedars-Sinai Medical Group orthopedic surgeon Dr. Robert Klapper also appeared on the program (video above) and seemed slightly less positive about the lightweight champion’s recovery timetable:

In my opinion, this is about the toughest thing you can come back for. Of all the injuries that can happen to a knee, when you’re talking about the ACL or the meniscus, these are the structures in the front. It’s easy for us as surgeons to get there. When you’re talking about the back of the knee, where the arteries and nerves are, a much trickier area to get to, the results are not as terrific as they are with the structures we rebuild in the front. I would pray for him. Coming back in July? That’s really optimistic.

My God, an injured UFC champion is becoming a more frequent occurrence than a tween star meltdown these days (I’m sorry). At least Pettis has that amazing UFC healthcare to fall back on, whereas Bieber only has enough money to turn major highways into his own private race tracks. I guess it’s not easy growing up anywhere.

Keeping with the string of terrible, injury-related news, UFC Tonight also touched on a potential health issue that could further delay Michael Bisping‘s octagon return. News on that after the jump…


(via Fox Sports.)

Suffice it to say, the past couple years have been injury-plagued (or perhaps even, cursed) ones for the UFC, but especially so for the promotion’s champions and biggest stars. Dominick Cruz has been out of action since Eisenhower was in office, Jose Aldo fought just once in 2012, and Anderson Silva, Anthony Pettis, and Cain Velasquez have all undergone major surgeries recently. Jon Jones is arguably still recovering from his war with Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 165, as his next title fight with Glover Teixeira has been delayed some three times since initially being announced.

But not all is hopeless; Jones and Aldo both have their next fights lined up, and Cruz and Silva have either vacated their titles or been removed from the title picture, freeing up some space in their respective divisions. And Pettis, who underwent successful knee surgery back in November to fix a torn PCL suffered in his title-earning win over Ben Henderson at UFC 164, expects to be back in action just in time for the UFC’s annual Fourth of July card.

“The doctor said six to eight months, so I’m hoping six months,” Pettis told UFC Tonight yesterday evening. Unfortunately, Cedars-Sinai Medical Group orthopedic surgeon Dr. Robert Klapper also appeared on the program (video above) and seemed slightly less positive about the lightweight champion’s recovery timetable:

In my opinion, this is about the toughest thing you can come back for. Of all the injuries that can happen to a knee, when you’re talking about the ACL or the meniscus, these are the structures in the front. It’s easy for us as surgeons to get there. When you’re talking about the back of the knee, where the arteries and nerves are, a much trickier area to get to, the results are not as terrific as they are with the structures we rebuild in the front. I would pray for him. Coming back in July? That’s really optimistic.

My God, an injured UFC champion is becoming a more frequent occurrence than a tween star meltdown these days (I’m sorry). At least Pettis has that amazing UFC healthcare to fall back on, whereas Bieber only has enough money to turn major highways into his own private race tracks. I guess it’s not easy growing up anywhere.

Keeping with the string of terrible, injury-related news, UFC Tonight also touched on a potential health issue that could further delay Michael Bisping‘s octagon return. News on that after the jump…

I’d like to think that Michael Bisping’s recent retina issues are the karmatic result of the brash middleweight not only mocking Alan Belcher’s near career-ending eye injury as being the result of “watching too much internet porn” (as if that’s a thing, right guys? GUYS?), but subsequently attempting to blind Belcher in their fight at UFC 159. In any case, it appears that “The Count,” who was all but a lock to fight newest rival Tim Kennedy at the TUF Nations finale barring an eye examination with the UFC’s doctors, could be facing additional complications in the form of a cataract as well.

Although Bisping is set to undergo said eye exams today, UFC Tonight passed along word that the Brit has developed a cataract in his injured right eye that could halt his return. If Bisping passes all the required exams, he should be cleared to fight. If he fails the tests and requires additional surgery, he could be looking at another six weeks out of action. I have to imagine that this will hamper his ability to kick Mark Munoz and Lyoto Machida’s asses at the same time, but then again, I never fought five men on Fedor’s shoulders who was also on Zeus’s shoulders but only Zeus could kick.

I know what you’re thinking: How is Tim Kennedy taking this news?

We will keep you updated on Bisping’s situation as information is made available.

–J. Jones

So Bellator Almost Definitely Screwed Attila Vegh Back in November

(Video via MMAFighting.com)

Bellator’s tenth season hasn’t even started yet and the company is already in the headlines for the wrong reasons.

Remember the highly suspicious bait-and-switch Bellator pulled in November 2013? The one where their light heavyweight champ Attila Vegh conveniently got “injured,” allowing Bellator to book a much-anticipated rematch between Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal and Emanuel Newton (who really should’ve adopted the nickname “Kingslayer” after defeating Mo the first time) for an interim title?

If you recall, Vegh said he wasn’t actually injured. Bellator disputed this, and then Vegh shut his mouth (maybe Bjorn Rebney threatened his dog).

Fast forward to yesterday, when Ariel Helwani interviewed Vegh in what looks like a dingy auto repair shop. Vegh spoke about the “injury,” but not before some prodding by Helwani.


(Video via MMAFighting.com)

Bellator’s tenth season hasn’t even started yet and the company is already in the headlines for the wrong reasons.

Remember the highly suspicious bait-and-switch Bellator pulled in November 2013? The one where their light heavyweight champ Attila Vegh conveniently got “injured,” allowing Bellator to book a much-anticipated rematch between Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal and Emanuel Newton (who really should’ve adopted the nickname “Kingslayer” after defeating Mo the first time) for an interim title?

If you recall, Vegh said he wasn’t actually injured. Bellator disputed this, and then Vegh shut his mouth (maybe Bjorn Rebney threatened his dog).

Fast forward to yesterday, when Ariel Helwani interviewed Vegh in what looks like a dingy auto repair shop. Vegh spoke about the “injury,” but not before some prodding by Helwani.

“I was injured,” Vegh maintained through a translator when first asked about the situation.

“I did have an injury before, but I was ready for the November fight,” he then said. “I wasn’t disappointed, but I was ready to fight.” He claimed to have “internal bleeding” from a kick to the rib cage.

Helwani kept pressing while Vegh and his translator nervously fiddled. He wanted to know why Vegh didn’t ask Bellator to book him in the fight against Newton since, after all, the Slovak was ready for the fight. Vegh channeled his inner Dana White with his response.

“No, I didn’t ask them,” he said. Why not? “Because.”

“I was ready just in case if somebody would be out or injured,” he explained. Then the discussion drifted to other, less interesting topics.

Let’s get this straight. According to Vegh, the CHAMPION (Vegh) was relegated to being an alternate for an INTERIM title fight. Wow. Is that the most Bellator thing that’s ever happened? We’re not definitively saying Bellator screwed Vegh, but the situation sounds fishy to us, especially in light of this interview.

It’s also concerning that Bellator’s stable of fighters seems rife with discontent. Featherweight champ Daniel Straus was pissed off about former champ Pat Curran getting an immediate rematch. Patricio “Pitbull” Freire, Bellator mainstay, earned a title shot by winning the season 9 welterweight tournament. Yet this recently booked rematch denies him of that. He was furious.

Bellator: Where title shots are earned, not given…unless you’re not quite as marketable or well known as somebody else. Then we’ll give you a title shot.

UFC on FOX 9 is Officially Cursed: Injured Matt Brown Out of Fight With Carlos Condit

(If only the discs in Brown’s back could’ve been “immortal” too. / Photo via Getty)

We don’t want to freak you out, but curses are real. Our last five posts about UFC on FOX 9 have all been injury related. Our sixth post about the event is worst of all: Matt Brown is out of his fight with Carlos Condit due to a back injury.

The best fight left on the card after a series of injuries ravaged it is gone now. If you’re not keeping score, here’s a rundown of how injury-plagued this fight card has been:


(If only the discs in Brown’s back could’ve been “immortal” too. / Photo via Getty)

We don’t want to freak you out, but curses are real. Our last five posts about UFC on FOX 9 have all been injury related. Our sixth post about the event is worst of all: Matt Brown is out of his fight with Carlos Condit due to a back injury.

The best fight left on the card after a series of injuries ravaged it is gone now. If you’re not keeping score, here’s a rundown of how injury-plagued this fight card has been:

Ian McCall was taken off the card in late October due to injury. In mid-November, the card lost its biggest star in lightweight champ Anthony Pettis. Then the card lost both Kelvin Gastelum *and* Jamie Varner. Former flyweight contender John Moraga fell to the curse next, and John Dodson after him. Now, it’s Matt Brown.

That’s seven fighters the card lost!

Maybe GSP’s alien friends are punishing the UFC for Dana White’s treatment of the champ? Perhaps the UFC has lost the favor of the MMA gods by forcing fans to pay for unfit for television, jobber-level matches? Or maybe the UFC is just exceptionally unlucky?

Either way, UFC on FOX 9 is a shadow of its former self. There are still some decent to above-average fights on it, but it’s no longer a must-see, free-card-of-the-year. Bummer.