A former UFC light-weight champion who’s scheduled to return to the octagon after a 2-year hiatus for the fiftieth battle of his profession not too long ago revealed that he’s gone beneath the knife thrice since his final UFC look and spoke a couple of “horrible” mistake made by one of many surgeons, which prompted his damage to turn out to be a recurring challenge.
The previous champion in query is none aside from Rafael dos Anjos. The now 41-year-old final fought Geoff Neal at UFC 308 in 2024 and suffered a first-round TKO loss after tearing his ACL.
After an intensive restoration and rehabilitation course of, Dos Anjos is lastly set to return to the octagon at UFC 332, the place he’ll face Alexander Hernandez in a light-weight bout.
Former UFC light-weight champion Rafael dos Anjos talks about his accidents and what went unsuitable within the first 2 surgical procedures
Earlier at the moment, on The Ariel Helwani Present, Rafael dos Anjos revealed that after the UFC 308 loss, he had a meniscus surgical procedure throughout which the physician stitched up his meniscus. 4 or 5 months after the operation, dos Anjos’ meniscus tore once more, and at the moment, he needed to get it eliminated. Nevertheless, the physician left a few stitches inside his knee, which was inflicting irritation and stopping him from extending his knee totally, and to get that fastened, he needed to get a 3rd surgical procedure.
“I had three surgical procedures back-to-back. After the Geoff Neal battle, I had meniscus surgical procedure, and the physician in Brazil made a mistake. He truly tried to sew up my meniscus, which was a horrible mistake… 4 or 5 months after the surgical procedure, my meniscus tore once more, so I needed to redo it. I needed to have the meniscus eliminated, and the physician in Austin, Texas, left a few stitches inside my knee, consider it or not.”
“It was inflicting irritation. I couldn’t get full extension, after which I had surgical procedure for the third time initially of this 12 months.”
At 41, the Brazilian veteran is at the moment on a three-fight dropping streak however stays decided to maintain competing and snap it. Dos Anjos hopes to battle a pair extra instances earlier than probably retiring, as he informed Helwani throughout the identical sit-down.
“For a second, I believed, ‘Man, that is it,’ however I don’t know, one thing inside me that at all times tells me carry on going. I don’t really feel like that is it but.”
Take a look at Rafael dos Anjos’ feedback beneath:
