This is the exact moment that Gunnar Nelson sustained the injury that ruled him out of the main event of UFC Belfast.
While promoting the November 19 event which will take place at the SSE Arena, Nelson took part in an open workout on the UFC’s Facebook page.
Nelson was rolling lightly with training partner Kenny Baker in preparation for his welterweight bout with Dong Hyun Kim when he twisted his ankle as he completed a takedown.
Tough as we all know he is, Nelson gutted it out and continued to grapple for another three minutes but he knew that there was an issue with his ankle.
The condition didn’t improve and last Friday it emerged that he would not be fit to fight and the main event was scrapped before it was ultimately replaced by a middleweight rematch between Gegard Mousasi and Uriah Hall.
‘Gunni’ has since taken to Instagram where he apologised to his fans and opponent before explaining the process he went through while trying to recover in time.
“For a few days I was not able to put any weight on the leg and thought I had to pull out and felt devastated but then within 10 days I got to a state where I could walk normally without much pain so I thought again that I was gonna fight and felt great,” Nelson wrote.
“For a few weeks I was doing everything that I could to get better so I would be able to return to proper training again but that next step of being able to bounce, move in and out and grapple just would not happen. I kept doing everything I could which was mostly rowing, swimming and bits here and there thinking i would get there.
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“A week ago my trainers told me and I was starting to realise that this was gonna take more time and I could not go into this fight with one ankle and not really any martial art training at all.
“Again I am so sorry for this but to all who already booked their tickets and travels and all the fans that were looking forward to this fight like I was.”
Here’s hoping for a speedy recovery for one of the most exciting 170lbers on the planet.
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