Thiago Santos continues his recovery from a severe knee injury that he suffered in the main event of UFC 239 against light heavyweight champion Jon Jones. Santos tore every ligament in his left knee early in the fight, but he still managed to last all five rounds against the champion.
On Thursday, July 25, Santos took to social media to show how he is recovering after going under the knife.
Santos is now able to walk with the help of a walker and is working on his rehab at the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas.
“It’s been 7 days since the surgeries on my knees,” Santos wrote. “I must admit, these days are tough, filled with a lot of pain. I can’t sleep or eat properly due to the medications. I even fear using the bathroom because the walk there is a battle. Thank God the pain is subsiding (it’s still just as intense during physical therapy).
“Today I was able to walk a bit without a wheelchair and only using the walker. I started doing some physical exercises. Thank you all for your prayers. We are in this war together and we will win.”
“Marreta” will miss the remainder of 2019 and much longer after suffering a torn ACL, MCL, PCL, and meniscus in his left knee. He also suffered damage to his right knee, though that damage has yet to be determined. Santos initially suffered the damage in the opening round of his five-round title fight and the unstableness of his knee was evident throughout the duration of the bout.
When medical suspensions were first announced by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, Santos’ layoff was accompanied with the message: “Needs left hand X-rayed and MRI of left knee. If injury discovered, must have orthopedic doctor clearance, or suspended until Jan. 3, 2020; suspended at minimum until Aug. 6 with no contact until July 28.”
You can check out video of Santos’ recovery below.
