HE BROKE HIS ARM @AndreMunizUFC
submits Jacare Souza in Round 1!!
#UFC262 pic.twitter.com/dH6tn41xhZ— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA)
May 16, 2021
In recent months, UFC fans have seen three bouts end abruptly after
fighters suffered gruesome fractures.
Chris
Weidman
broke his tibia and fibula throwing a leg kick at UFC 261;
Ronaldo
Souza had his
humerus fractured during an armbar from Andre Muniz
at UFC 262 and Conor
McGregor
broke his leg after stepping awkwardly in the UFC 264
headliner.
Shortly after McGregor’s injury, Sherdog.com spoke to Dr. Rickson
Moraes, the orthopedist for Rafael dos
Anjos, Jose Aldo,
Souza and many other UFC fighters. Moraes speculated about the
impact restrictive weight loss diets can have on the bone
composition.
“It’s pretty common for stress fractures in patients submitted to
rigid diets for long periods,” Moraes said. “The bones are a living
tissue. All our lives we are forming and reabsorbing bones. Any
human being subjected to long periods of
nutrient deprivation can change hormone release
rates, what can generate an imbalance, weakening the bones.”
Moraes said that it is impossible to confirm if the fractures
suffered by Weidman, Souza or McGregor were at all related to the
weight-loss process.
“Without exams before and after it’s impossible to affirm 100
percent that a strict diet has changed bone densitometry and caused
a fracture,” he said, while adding the he supports the possibility
of all athletic commissions requiring bone densitometry exams
during pre-fight medicals to help prevent these types of
injuries.
The Brazilian orthopedist would like to see the UFC sponsor further
research about that subject just as it has done with head injuries
and CTE.
“Information is always welcome. All we have are
hypotheses,” Moraes said. “It would be amazing for all combat
sports if the UFC could sponsor research conducted by
specialists testing fighters from different groups over a long
period, with the right methodology.
“The sport is growing really fast and any support of science in
order to protect the fighters’ health and increase their career is
always very welcome.”