British flyweight prospect Muhammad Mokaev faced Brazilian debutant Jafel Filho in a prelims bout at UFC 286, where Mokaev was expected to win as he was a favorite in some sportsbooks.
However, things didn’t go according to plan as Filho put up a tough front, and in round 3, caught Mokaev in a kneebar that caused an injury, leaving him unable to walk.
Mokaev showed great grit in deciding not to tap and miraculously slipped out of the kneebar, scoring a come-from-behind victory by submitting the debutant with an RNC.
UFC 286 kneebar attempt caused grade 2 year of Mokaev’s MCL
Following the event, Mokaev updated his fans on the injury caused due to the kneebar, and he revealed that he could not walk and planned to do an MRI soon.
MRI revealed he had a MCL, Grade 2 tear. The medial collateral ligament (MCL) is one of the four major ligaments that support the knee joint. It runs along the inner side of the knee and helps to prevent the knee from bending inward.
A Grade 2 tear of the MCL is a partial tear where the ligament is stretched or partially torn. This type of injury can cause pain, swelling, and instability in the knee joint.
Treatment typically involves rest, ice, compression, and elevation of the affected knee, as well as physical therapy to help regain strength and mobility in the knee. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to repair or reconstruct the damaged ligament.
This is a far preferable option to a tear in ACL or meniscus which was initially suspected. Mokaev will undergo another MRI in several days, once the swelling goes down further hoping to verify that there’s no need for surgery.
Mokaev went into UFC 286 with a bad shoulder
Prior to the event, he suffered a shoulder dislocation – which is another injury he might not operate on.
Mokaev’s comments revealed his tenacity and unyielding spirit, as he refused to give in even when faced with a potentially career-ending injury.
He expressed his confidence in his ability to withstand the submission attempt, saying “I’m flexible. There were like three-four cracks. And [Rafel Filho] thought I was gonna tap, so he relaxed a little bit.”
Mokaev also revealed he had gone into an event with grade 4 AC tear.
A grade 4 AC separation of a shoulder is a severe injury to the acromioclavicular (AC) joint, which is located where the clavicle (collarbone) meets the scapula (shoulder blade). This injury occurs when the ligaments that hold these bones together tear or rupture. In a grade 4 AC separation, the clavicle is displaced significantly from the scapula, and there is a visible bump or deformity at the site of the injury.
This can cause severe pain, limited mobility, and weakness in the affected arm. Treatment for a grade 4 AC separation typically involves surgery and a period of rehabilitation to restore strength and range of motion.
“I came here with AC Type 4 injury. I didn’t say this. What type it was. I know it’s dislocation but show me anyone who else can even move the arm after AC joint injury ”
