Rafael Fiziev, a lightweight contender, posted a video on social media of himself and two other MMA athletes receiving medical attention after their matches at UFC Vegas 79.
Fiziev was the main attraction of Dana White’s most recent event at the UFC APEX, but it ended disastrously when he was kicked out in round two and crumpled to the ground in pain.
As he planted to throw the kick, grim slow-motion videos showed his knee popping, and he was taken to the hospital to confirm what appeared to be a severe ACL injury.
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UFC Vegas 79: Fighters Who Received Injury
Fiziev bumped into a couple of colleagues in the hospital, despite being in excruciating pain and facing an extended period of time off the pitch.
The Azerbaijani tweeted a video of him lying in a hospital bed with strawweight veteran Michelle Waterson-Gomez and featherweight champion Bryce Mithcell, looking a little battered after their matches.
In the co-main event of UFC Vegas 79, Mitchell faced up against the powerful puncher Dan Ige. After winning unanimously, Mitchell prayed with a bible on the Octagon floor.
He did not, however, leave the fight unscathed as Ige was able to open a severe cut above his right eye, which by the end of the 15-minute bout had swollen shut.
Prior to Mitchell vs. Ige, Michelle Waterson-Gomez was halted in the first two rounds of her bout with Marina Rodriguez after suffering a similar injury.
Despite being in the hospital, Mitchell and Waterson-Gomez were both in a good mood.
In the hospital were two additional UFC fighters.
Following his victory over Jacob Malkoun, who was later disqualified for elbowing his opponent in the back of the head, Cody Brundage was sent for a preventative CT scan.
Tim Means went to the hospital after his three-round fight with Andre Fialho, where both fighters won a $50,000 Fight of the Night prize, to get checked out.
Jake Collier cut himself during his battle with Mohammed Usman, Kamaru Usman’s heavyweight brother, but it seems like the injury was sewn up backstage and Collier didn’t require any further care.
On October 7, when MMA’s top promotion returns to Las Vegas for another performance at the UFC APEX, White will be hoping that things run much more smoothly.