Chris Weidman, Dustin Poirier, and Jorge Masvidal shared extensive details about surgeries they have undergone during their careers. Weidman described having a titanium rod inserted into his leg after his fracture, while Poirier revealed he had a pin placed in a broken hand and that a septum rebuilt from donor rib cartilage is currently in his nose. Poirier also disclosed he declined a third nasal surgery before a planned fight with Max Holloway after doctors warned that a fourth operation could cost him his nose entirely.
Three veterans of the sport opened up about the physical toll a long MMA career can take, swapping stories about surgeries, broken bones, and the hardware keeping them together.
Chris Weidman, Dustin Poirier, and Jorge Masvidal each shared candid details about procedures they have undergone during their time in the sport. Weidman described the process of having a titanium rod inserted into his leg following his well-documented fracture, while Poirier revealed a pin was placed in a broken hand and that his nose now contains a septum rebuilt using donor rib cartilage. Perhaps most striking, Poirier disclosed that he declined a third nasal surgery ahead of a planned bout with Max Holloway after doctors cautioned that a fourth procedure down the line could cost him his nose entirely.
Weidman, 42, carries a 16-8-0 record and has competed at the highest levels of the sport for well over a decade. The Serra-Longo Fight Team representative stands six-foot-two with a 78-inch reach and has built his career around elite wrestling, averaging 3.27 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Poirier, 37, holds a 30-10-0 record and has long been one of the most active and durable fighters in the sport. The American Top Team southpaw stands five-foot-nine with a 72-inch reach and produces significant output, landing 5.24 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy.
Holloway, whose planned fight with Poirier provided the backdrop for part of the conversation, holds a 27-9-0 record and is currently ranked fourth in the lightweight division and ninth pound-for-pound. The 34-year-old is among the most prolific strikers in MMA history, landing 7.2 significant strikes per minute.
Why it matters
- The discussion highlights the long-term physical consequences elite fighters absorb across extended careers
- Poirier's decision to decline surgery before facing Holloway adds significant context to how fighters weigh health risks against competition
- Weidman's titanium rod detail underscores the severity of the leg injury that reshaped the final phase of his career
