Chris Weidman, Dustin Poirier, and Jorge Masvidal shared details of the injuries they have accumulated across their careers. Weidman explained that a titanium rod inserted into his leg after his leg break prevents a recurrence of an open fracture, while also noting he has metal in his hands that causes him pain when striking. Poirier described the painful experience of having a pin inserted and later removed from a broken hand, and revealed he has a rib-cartilage implant in his nose after two surgeries, adding that he declined a third nasal operation in order to stay available to fight Max Holloway.
Three veterans of the UFC's toughest eras pulled back the curtain on the physical toll a career in mixed martial arts can take, with Chris Weidman, Dustin Poirier, and Jorge Masvidal sharing candid accounts of the injuries they have sustained over the years.
Weidman, the 42-year-old former UFC middleweight champion from the Serra-Longo Fight Team, carries a 16-8 record and a body that reflects years of elite competition. He revealed that a titanium rod now runs through his leg following the gruesome fracture that has defined much of his recent career story, with the hardware designed to prevent any repeat of an open break. He also disclosed that metal implants in his hands cause him ongoing pain whenever he strikes — a significant concern for a fighter who averages 3.27 takedowns per 15 minutes and has built his game around physical control rather than pure volume striking.
Poirier, 37, holds a 30-10 record and fights out of American Top Team. One of the most battle-tested lightweights of his generation, he described the ordeal of having a pin inserted into a broken hand and later surgically removed. He also revealed that two nasal surgeries left him with a rib-cartilage implant in his nose. Most telling was his admission that he turned down a recommended third nasal procedure in order to remain available to fight Max Holloway — a decision that speaks to his competitive drive at this stage of his career.
Holloway, 34, sits ranked fourth in the lightweight division and ninth in the pound-for-pound rankings with a 27-9 record. He averages a remarkable 7.2 significant strikes per minute, making him one of the most prolific volume strikers in the sport.
Why it matters
- Weidman's hand pain raises questions about the durability of his striking output going forward
- Poirier's choice to skip surgery to stay fight-ready signals he remains fully committed to competing at the highest level
- A potential Poirier-Holloway matchup would pit two of lightweight's most experienced names against each other, with significant ranking consequences at stake
