Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) welterweight Mike Pierce may have dodged a Brazilian bullet following an MRI on his injured knee, which suffered an MCL sprain following a first-round submission loss to Rousimar Palhares at UFC Fight Night 29 last week in Brazil (video replay).
Doctors also discovered ligament damage to his left ankle, but Pierce is not expected to need surgery, according to an update he provided to MMA Fighting:
"Sprained MCL and an almost completely torn ligament on the outside of my left ankle. [Doctor] says I should be feeling a lot better in 2-3 weeks and that I shouldn't need surgery. But to check back in with him at that 2-3 week point."
Pierce has six months to get himself back into fighting shape. The Brazilian Athletic Commission (CABMMA) suspended him in the wake of the Oct. 9, 2013 event on FOX Sports 1 (details), which took place at Jose Correa Arena in Barueri, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
But six months is not nearly as long as forever.
That's how long Palhares will be out of the Octagon after getting shit-canned by the ZUFFA brass. "Toquinho" came under fire for violating the promotion's code of conduct -- yet again -- when he yanked and cranked Pierce's leg after the tap, which marred an otherwise brilliant performance.
And this time there is no Plan B (or C).
Several days removed from the incident, Pierce is still "angry" over the way his fight went down against Palhares and even offered to rematch him to set the record straight.