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In the UFC, and indeed all of MMA, injuries are common. Very few fighters, if any, step into the cage without nagging injury issues. Most of the time, the injuries that UFC fighters carry inside the octagon are minor enough to have no prominent effect on their performances.
However, that isn't always the case. Sometimes, injuries so devastating occur that they cancel entire bouts altogether. Some fighters choose to soldier onwards despite their ability to win being gravely affected by their injuries. Regardless, 2022 has been a fortunate year for the UFC.
The promotion has had worse years when it comes to injuries ruining Dana White's plans. But that isn't to say that such incidents never took place this year. Matchups were canceled and main events were reshuffled due to injuries. This list compiles five of the worst injuries this year.
#5. Calvin Kattar, UFC featherweight
At UFC Fight Night 213, Calvin Kattar faced Arnold Allen. For the former UFC title challenger, it was his chance to bounce back into the win column after he suffered a controversial loss to Josh Emmett. Meanwhile, this was Arnold Allen's opportunity to continue building towards a future title fight.
The first round didn't tell fans much in terms of who the superior fighter was. The Englishman was as fast as usual, and the exchanges were quick and furious. Unfortunately, in the first round, 'The Boston Finisher' suffered a grevious knee injury. He attempted a flying knee but missed as his foe evaded him.
Kattar landed awkwardly and immediately collapsed as he grimaced in pain. Allen pounced but his opponent survived until the end of the round. In the second round, however, one low kick was enough to send Kattar tumbling to the mat. Herb Dean waved off the fight and it was later revealed that Kattar had torn his ACL.
#4. Tom Aspinall, UFC heavyweight
Throughout UFC history, there have been countless fighters who have been described by others as future champions. Kevin Lee was once heralded as a fighter with all of the tools to capture championship gold. Yet in 2022, he is an Eagle FC fighter whose only win in the last three years was Diego Sanchez.
Tom Aspinall is another fighter who many believe is a future titleholder. On the 23rd of July, the Englishman had his chance to meet everyone's expectations by defeating Curtis Blaydes. Alas, his moment was cut short by an injury. 15 seconds into the first round, he suffered a sudden leg injury after throwing a low kick.
Exactly how he injured himself remains unknown. But the bout was immediately called off by the referee and Aspinall later revealed that he had a torn MCL, a torn meniscus, and an injured ACL. With his return nowhere in sight, it will be some time before fans see Aspinall back inside the octagon.
#3. Francis Ngannou, UFC heavyweight champion
UFC 270 was billed as a grudge match between two former training partners. Francis Nagnnou, the most feared knockout artist in MMA history, faced one of the most elusive and athletic heavyweights in Ciryl Gane. Unfortunately, the version of 'The Predator' that turned up for the bout was different.
Weeks before the fight, the Cameroonian power-puncher tore his ACL and MCL, severely compromising him. Yet he soldiered on and implemented a wrestling-heavy gameplan against 'Bon Gamin'. Ngannou won a grinding decision against his former training partner.
However, the damage to his knees had worsened. It kept Ngannou out of action for the rest of the year as he required surgery and a long period of recovery to regain his strength.
#2. T.J. Dillashaw, former UFC bantamweight
T.J. Dillashaw's quest to become a three-time bantamweight champion was severely compromised before it was ever truly underway. Throughout the former Team Alpha Male standout's training camp, he injured his shoulder. He allegedly dislocated his shoulder some 20 times prior to his bout with Aljamain Sterling.
Thus, by the time the two men crossed swords, Dillashaw was in no condition to fend off Sterling's relentless grappling. Worse still, the former champion could barely strike. He was a sitting duck with one functional arm. While Dillashaw survived the first round, the second round became impossible.
His dislocated shoulder was an obstacle he couldn't overcome. Within three minutes, Sterling defeated him via TKO. The loss was a bitter one, but the post-surgery recovery time he'd need to honor was even worse. It was too long for Dillashaw to bear, prompting him to retire from the sport of MMA altogether.
#1. Jiří Procházka, UFC light heavyweight
One of the heaviest blows that the promotion suffered was Jiří Procházka's shoulder injury. UFC 282 was meant to be the last PPV spectacle of the year. Originally, it was going to host the highly anticipated rematch between Jiří Procházka and Glover Teixeira. Their previous bout is 2022's Fight of the Year.
Thus, fans rejoiced when they were given the opportunity to view the second coming of one of the greatest fights they've ever seen. Unfortunately, as the fight neared, the Czech phenom suffered an injury so severe that the promotion's president Dana White described it as the worst shoulder injury he's ever seen.
The injury was so horrendous that Procházka opted to vacate the title instead of sitting out and allowing an interim title fight to take place. The long recovery time he must observe will prevent him from stepping inside the octagon until September 2023.
