Last year in September we saw Alexander Gustafsson give a show-stopping performance against the current Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones. It was an amazing fight that left fans, including myself, wanting rounds 6 through 10.
The rematch was slated for this September, and it had the potential of being the biggest fight of the year, that is until the injury bug showed up and put a halt to the proceedings. It was announced in July that Gustafsson would have to pull out of the rematch because of a meniscus tear to his right knee.
The menisci of the knee are two pads of cartilage-like tissue that disperse friction in the knee and provide integrity to the knee as it undergoes torsion. Menisci are “C” shaped, which is a detail that is important in understanding the different types of injury this structure can undergo.
The injury that Gustafsson had repaired, and is currently recovering from, is a milder type of “over-use” injury that occurs when demands are made on the knee over a long period of time. The fibers that make up the meniscus are stressed beyond their capacity time and again, and begin to wear or fray, after time the fibers can no longer rebound from the stress put upon them, and tear. The repair for this type of injury is non-complex and requires only a short amount of healing time before an athlete is back to training, such is the case with “The Mauler”.
A more serious type of injury that can occur with the meniscus is caused when violent force is put upon the knee in such a way that the “C” shaped pad is actually separated from the bone. The portion of the meniscus that comes free of the bone flips up giving the injury its name, Bucket Handle tear. Imagine the C shaped handle on a pail of paint. In some cases the free edge of the meniscus flips into the knee joint itself causing pain and loss of mobility, this is the case with UFC up and comer Mike Rhodes.
I talked with “Biggie” Rhodes about the injury, which happened during his fight with Robert Whittaker, to give the fans an inside view.
Aaron Robbins: Ok Mike go stepwise, for the fans, from when he took you down. What did you feel and what were your symptoms?
Mike Rhodes: “Umm, I felt a pop in my knee and I couldn’t straighten my leg out. I didn’t feel pain immediately, it just felt like it was caught on something. He [Whittaker] was on top, and when I went for a sweep I felt the knee pop again, and I could straighten the leg again. The pain didn’t really start to hit me until my flight home. The leg swelled up and the foot swelled up. That’s when I knew it was a problem.”
AR: How was it confirmed to be a meniscus tear?
MR:“They did a MRI and that’s when it was confirmed that I had a Bucket Handle tear in the lateral meniscus of my left knee. The ligament slipped back on itself, and that explains why I couldn’t straighten my leg or bear weight without pain.”
AR: How difficult was the surgery for you?
MR:“The process was fairly simple, it was a scope surgery, they put me out, made three little incisions in the knee, and cut the piece out that was frayed. He told me I could walk right after surgery. The good thing about the surgery is that it is very decisive, they either repair it, or take out the damaged piece.”
AR: How long before you can start training again?
MR:“I should be back to full training within six weeks with good rehab on the knee.”
As far as knee injuries go, a meniscus tear, usually has a very good prognosis, as long as the repair is done correctly. Most times, once fixed, it is not an injury that will plague an athlete or stop them from competing at the highest level. So fight fans, don’t fret, “The Mauler” will be back on top in no time, and to my new friend Mike Rhodes, feel better soon buddy, I can’t to see you back in the cage!
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