Josh Emmett Suffered Complete ACL Tear, Other Injuries at UFC on ESPN 11

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Josh Emmett had reason to be frustrated after his victory over Shane Burgos in the UFC on ESPN 11 co-main event this past Saturday.

According to ESPN, the Team Alpha Male product completely tore the ACL in his left knee in the opening moments of the first round of the featherweight bout at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. In addition to that injury, Emmett also suffered a partial MCL tear, a Baker’s cyst rupture (fluid leakage into the calf), a focal impact fracture of the femur, cartilage damage and severe swelling. Emmett speculated that it was an ACL tear in the immediate aftermath of the fight.

A timeframe for Emmett’s recovery is currently unclear. The 35-year-old has won three straight fights and five of his last six overall in UFC competition. UFC on ESPN 11 was Emmett’s first Octagon appearance in nearly a year.

“I think I overcommitted to a right hand. And I think he kicked my knee when I was coming in and I hyperextended it. It had to be the first minute….It just kept buckling and giving out,” Emmett said at Saturday’s post-fight press conference. “I never experienced anything like that. I know it’s on the outside. I believe it’s my ACL. That’s what’s going through my mind. I couldn’t move. Anytime I would try to throw a right leg kick, so I had my leg planted on my left, it would buckle. Anytime I would try to lean over and throw uppercuts — I wanted to go to the liver a lot and couldn’t — it would buckle. I had to stand there and throw jabs and overhand rights.

“The first thing going through my mind is, ‘OK this hurts, I can’t move. I’m gonna have to adapt to it.’ My mentality is my strongest part of my game. I’m willing to go through anything to get my hand raised.”