Claudia Gadelha returned to the Octagon this past weekend on the preliminary card of UFC 225, picking up a split decision victory over former UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion Carla Esparza.
The Brazilian fighter had suffered a knee injury before the bout, something she revealed in a recent social media posting (transcribed by MMA Fighting).
“I didn’t want to pull out of the fight, but on Monday of last week I strained a ligament knee and the posterior thigh muscle and went there to fight for you,” Gadelha wrote on Instgram. “Now I’ll take care and come back stronger.”
Gadelha and Esparza’s fights have been seemingly cursed in the past, as Gadelha pulled out of two previous fights against Esparza during their time in Invicta FC.
Early in the three round battle with Esparza, a soon to be victorious Gadelha suffered another knee injury.
“I blew my knee in the first round,” wrote Gadelha.
A short time after this story was published, it was revealed by Gadelha through Twitter that she would be getting knee surgery this coming week:
Knee surgery will be next week. Thank you for the real and loved ones!!
— Claudia Gadelha (@ClaudiaGadelha_) June 14, 2018
There is no word at this time as to how long the knee injuries will keep the top ranked fighter out of action, but more should be known as she gets everything checked out by medical professionals.
