Andrey
Koreshkov did a number on Chance
Rencountre in the Bellator 274 co-main event.
Koreshkov wrecked the UFC veteran with a spinning back kick to the
ribs early in their welterweight encounter, and he finished off his
opponent with follow-up punches 38 seconds into Round 1. As it
turns out, there wouldn’t have been much Rencountre could have done
to recover from Koreshkov’s attack.
“Chance Rencountre suffered five broken ribs, a punctured lung from
the heel kick landed by Andrey Koreshkov last night,” Rencountre’s
manager, Brian Butler, wrote on Instagram on Sunday. “Not the
outcome we wanted but the kick was well placed and would have
stopped anyone. Next time we will get a full camp and come back
stronger.
“Chance is in good spirits and prepping for surgery. Thank you to
the Bellator MMA team who has been tremendous with all their
assistance. Congratulations to Andrey Koreshkov and his team on the
victory.”
Rencountre, who had been victorious in four of his previous five
professional outings entering the bout, posted a separate update
via Instagram with a picture of him recovering in a hospital
bed.
“Feeling pretty chipper for a man with [five] broken ribs, a
punctured lung half full of blood and a bruised kidney,” Rencountre
said. “Not the way I’d envisioned my Bellator return playing out
but congratulations to Andrey Koreshkov and a big thank you to all
the Bellator MMA staff for all their hard work both pre and
post-fight. I’m feeling very well taken care of.
“Sh*t happens. Thanks everyone for their support and well wishes.
[I’m going to] get me some metal wrapped around my ribs and come
back like Wolverine with the adamantium skeleton.”