UFC fighter Rafael Fiziev revealed that he tore his ACL during his fight against Mateusz Gamrot, which will require surgery and a lengthy recovery time, potentially keeping him out of action for up to a year.
Rafael Fiziev recently shared some disheartening news about an injury he sustained during his bout against Mateusz Gamrot in the UFC Vegas 79 main event. Fiziev revealed in an Instagram update that he had suffered a torn ACL in his knee, which would necessitate surgery and subsequently, a significant period of recovery. Such ACL injuries typically cause an athlete to be unable to compete for around nine months to a year, subject to the length and success of rehabilitation.
Expressing his disappointment at the development, the fighter shared, “I will be back. I’m just sad because I had a very great camp, and I was ready to show my best skills. And I’m sad because it happened only in the second round.” Fiziev lamented that he could handle a loss, but preferred it not occurring in the early stages of the fight. Despite the setback, he remained hopeful about the future stating, “We have plans, but God has different plans. His plan is always the best.”
The unfortunate mishap that gave Fiziev his injury took place in the second round of the match. He went down in obvious pain after throwing a kick that was blocked, and his knee twisted as he fell. Replay footage of the incident showcased how Fiziev’s planted leg twisted and his knee moved as Gamrot defended. It was initially suspected that he’d sustained a knee injury, and a torn ACL was the worst possible outcome.
The fight ended in a second-round TKO, with Fiziev being the underdog. The injury was clearly the more significant issue as Fiziev was assisted out of the octagon and transported to a local Las Vegas hospital. It was less than 48 hours later he received the diagnosis of a torn ACL, which means he’ll have to wait until around mid-to-late 2024 to make a return to UFC.