Chris Weidman, Dustin Poirier, and Jorge Masvidal shared details about their various surgical procedures and injuries sustained during their fighting careers. Weidman described having a titanium rod inserted in his leg following his leg break, as well as metal hardware in his hands. Poirier revealed he has had two nose surgeries and that a rib from a donor was used in a nasal procedure, adding that he declined a third nose operation before his fight with Max Holloway to avoid potential permanent disfigurement.
Three veteran fighters recently opened up about the physical toll a career in mixed martial arts takes on the human body, with Chris Weidman, Dustin Poirier, and Jorge Masvidal each detailing the surgeries and hardware they now carry from years of competition.
Weidman, 42, holds a professional record of 16-8 and built his reputation as one of the sport's premier wrestlers, averaging 3.27 takedowns per fifteen minutes across his career. Fighting out of the Serra-Longo Fight Team, the six-foot-two New Yorker described carrying a titanium rod in his leg — a consequence of his now-infamous leg break — along with metal hardware in both hands from additional procedures sustained over the course of his career.
Poirier, known as "The Diamond," is 37 years old and carries a 30-10 record fighting out of American Top Team. The southpaw lightweight has long been regarded as one of the division's elite strikers, landing 5.24 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy. He revealed he has undergone two nose surgeries during his career, including a procedure in which a rib from a donor was used to reconstruct his nasal passage. Notably, Poirier said he declined a third nose operation before his bout with Max Holloway, citing concerns that additional surgery could cause permanent disfigurement.
Holloway, ranked fourth in the lightweight division and ninth pound-for-pound, is referenced in the context of that Poirier fight. The 34-year-old Hawaiian carries a 27-9 record and is one of the sport's highest-volume strikers, averaging 7.2 significant strikes per minute.
Why it matters
- The discussion highlights the long-term physical costs elite fighters accept throughout their careers
- Poirier's decision to forgo surgery before a major fight illustrates the difficult medical calculations athletes face close to competition
- Weidman's leg injury remains one of the most significant and publicized in recent UFC history, and his account adds personal detail to its lasting impact
