Time for a second opinion.
When former UFC Interim heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira was given an adjustable brace and a pat on the ass from Los Angeles-based doctors, arm-chair surgeons around the world all agreed that sooner or later the day would come when "Minotauro" would need surgery.
That day was December 16, 2011.
Nogueira went under the knife last Friday to repair the broken arm he suffered against Frank Mir in the co-main event of UFC 140: "Jones vs. Machida" back on Dec. 10 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
From the Nogueira's official blog (via ESPN):
"Mr. Nogueira suffered a complex fracture to his humerus. The fracture began in the middle of the bone and extended to the elbow region. Unfortunately, the radial nerve [one of the main nerves lending a feeling of power to the hands] was damaged. The nerve is located in the area of the fracture, and the bone compressed it. Before the operation, he had very little strength in his hand and no strength whatsoever in his thumb. The operation involved an incision behind the arm. The nerve was removed from the location of the fracture and treated. The fracture was fixed with a plate and 16 screws, and now, less than 12 hours post-op, his hand functions are returning and the bone is mending. If all goes well, he'll be back to full training in the coming months and should be 100-percent to fight in six months or less. We foresee him making a complete and full recovery."
Nogueira, 35, recently returned to competition earlier this year after multiple surgeries to correct problems with his hip and knees and while he was only hit with a two-month medical suspension by the Ontario Athletics Commission, he likely won't see the inside of the Octagon for at least six months.
Too soon?
For more on the UFC 140 bout between Nogueira and Mir and to get another look at the grisly injury, click here and here. For all the results and fallout from "Jones vs. Machida" click here.
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