Anderson Silva Breaks Leg in UFC Rematch Against Chris Weidman; Could Be Back in 6 Months? (VIDEO)
Anderson Silva broke his leg facing off against Chris Weidman in the highly anticipated rematch that served as the main UFC event Saturday night. Silva, who lost to Weidman earlier this year by KO, was counting on regaining his status as one of the most dominating fighters ever to step into the octagon.
Anderson Silva's broken leg came after an eventful first round that many critics scored in favor of Weidman. Weidman managed to hurt Silva fairly badly in the clinch, according to FoxSports.com, and then landed a great punch to end the round.
Silva tried to answer in the second round to nasty results. When going for one of his classic leg kicks, Weidman checked the move, and the 38-year-old Brazilian fighter's fibula snapped, his leg becoming rubbery on impact. Silva fell down in the ring screaming in pain and the referee stopped the fight, giving the victory to Weidman.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
After the fight, Weidman stated that he had never used that kick check before and did not intend to hurt Silva the way he did.
"It stops guys from kicking," he told the Los Angeles Times of the move, which is named "destruction." "I've never done that before, and I'd never want Anderson Silva to get hurt like that. If I don't put the knee on the shin, he's going to hurt me. That's how you check the kick."
Silva was rushed to emergency surgery after the grisly break, where he had a rod put into his left tibia and the broken fibula was stabilized. UFC President Dana White said it is too early to know whether Silva will retire or not, but one doctor believes he could fight in under six months.
"Because we are fixing the fracture from inside out, the healing bone that surrounds the bone actually makes Anderson Silva's tibia stronger after the fracture than it was before the fracture," Dr. Robert Klapper, director of the joint replacement program at Cedars-Sinai hospital, told Fox Sports. "He can no longer say he's at risk for breaking it again. He can break other things, but he won't break that again."
Dr. Klapper said that initial estimates of Silva only being able to walk in three to six months were premature- Silva could be back in the ring by that time "if he wants to."
"He's going to heal," Klapper said. "He's going to walk. He's going to run. He won't have a limp. And absolutely could fight again if he wanted to."
To see Silva's leg break, click below (WARNING: Graphic content.)
