Injuries Since the Health Insurace Coverage was offered in May, 2011.

May 9, 2011 - UFC offers its fighters historic, great health insurance coverage.  Including out-of-competion coverage.
http://middleeasy.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4598:some-notes-about-ufcs-historic-health-insurance-coverage-for-fighters&catid=34:organizations  


The Curse goes on.  Jose Aldo is hurt and we're waiting to see if Cain Velasquez's hand is broken.

Newest addition to the list of The Curse, Flyweight Demetrious Johnson, AKA Mighty Mouse, is out with an injury.  He must have surgery to repair a hernia.  It remains to be seen how long he will be sidelined for. 

September 11, 2011 - Anderson Silva shoulder injury likely to keep him sidelined until early 2012.
http://www.mmamania.com/2011/9/11/2419369/anderson-silva-shoulder-injury-likely-to-keep-him-sidelined-until 

October 29, 2011 - Following his loss to Nick Diaz, BJ Penn announces his retirement from MMA.
http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2011/10/29/2524168/ufc-137-results-b-j-penn-retires-nick-diaz 

December 7, 2011 - GSP's ACL injury causes him to pull out of UFC 143.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/973800-ufc-143-gsp-injured-why-georges-stpierre-vs-nick-diaz-will-never-happen

December 30, 2011 - Brock Lesnar loses ot Alistair Overeem and announces his retirement from MMA.
http://espn.go.com/mma/story/_/id/7406718/brock-lesnar-retires-first-round-loss-alistair-overeem-ufc-141 


January 17, 2012 - Mark Munoz injured.  Out of UFC on Fox 2.
http://www.mmaweekly.com/mark-munoz-injured-chael-sonnen-vs-michael-bisping-new-ufc-on-fox-2-co-main-event 

February 9, 2012 - Nick Diaz tests positive for marijuana.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/mma/post/2012-02-09/nick-diaz-tests-positive-for-marijuana/624163/1 

March 24, 2012 - Thiago Silva injured.
http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2012/3/24/2899744/thiago-silva-injury-ac-milan-as-roma 

April 4, 2012 - Alistair Overeem tests positive for elevated testosterone levels.
http://www.mmamania.com/2012/4/4/2926055/alistair-overeem-tests-positive-ufc-146-junior-dos-santos

May 7, 2012 - Add Dominick Cruz to the injured list.
http://mmajunkie.com/news/28594/dominick-cruz-injured-forced-out-of-ufc-148-bout-with-urijah-faber.mma

May 19, 2012 - Jon Jones arrested for crashing his car due to DUI.
http://www.tmz.com/2012/05/19/jon-jones-ufc-arrested-dui/ 

May 27, 2012 - Vitor Belfort injured.  Out of UFC 147 fight with Wanderlei Silva.
http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2012/5/27/3046148/ufc-147-vitor-belfort-injured-wanderlei-silva 

May 29, 2012 - Cain Velasquez might POSSIBLY be out with a broken hand.  If so, for 6 months.
http://www.mmafighting.com/ufc/2012/5/29/3051342/ufc-146-medical-suspensions-cain-velasquez-bigfoot-silva-mma 

May 30, 2012 - Alan Belcher injured.  Out of UFC 147 fight with Wanderlei Silva.
http://www.mmamania.com/2012/5/30/3052535/injury-alan-belcher-wanderlei-silva-ufc-147 

May 30, 2012 - Papy Abedi injured.  Out of UFC on FX 4 fight with Rick Story.
http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2012/5/30/3053757/ufc-on-fx-4-brock-jardine-vs-rick-story-abedi-attonito-mma-news 

June 1, 2012 - Thiago Alves injured.  Out of UFC 149 fight against Siyar Bahadurzada.
http://mmacarnivale.com/2012/06/thiago-alves-injured-out-of-ufc-149/

June 3, 2012 - Jon Fitch injured, Out of UFC on Fuel TV 4 fight with Aaron Simpson.
http://mmajunkie.com/news/29030/jon-fitch-injured-forced-to-withdraw-from-julys-ufc-on-fuel-tv-4-event.mma 

June 6, 2012 - Now we hear that Brian Stann is injured.
http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_13536.shtml 

June 7, 2012 - Michael Bisping injured, out of UFC 149 fight with Tim Boetsch.
http://www.fightcove.com/michael-bisping-injured-hector-lombard-vs-tim-boetsch-on-tap-for-ufc-149/  

June 9, 2012 - Add Jose Aldo to the injured list.  Out of UFC 149.
http://espn.go.com/mma/story/_/id/8031687/ufc-149-jose-aldo-pulls-fight-erik-koch-injury  

June 12, 2012 - Demetrious Johnson (Mighty Mouse) requires hernia surgery.
http://aurone332.blogspot.com/2012/06/morning-report-demetrious-johnson-needs.html  
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So far, Aldo, Cruz, Stann, Belfort, Bisping, Fitch, Alves, Belcher, Abedi, Thiago Silva & Demetrious Johnson have all been injured in the past 30 days.  And Cain Velasquez is questionable.

* Edited at 06.12.2012, 8:23 PM ET *

**********in bump

Today, I read a brand new theory that might account partially for the recent epidemic of MMA injuries to hit the UFC.
http://bleacherreport.com/tb/d7K0k?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=mma

I think it might be possible that since the UFC announced it would conduct private, random, unannounced steroid testing of its fighters, many UFC guys decided to get clean and stop taking steroids on the sly.

And when an athlete does stop taking them, injuries may ensue.  This is a distinct possibility.  The UFC officially announced this new policy on March 31, 2012.
http://blog.mmaratings.net/2012/04/ufc-announces-random-blood-testing-zero.html 




  

* Edited at 06.12.2012, 9:50 PM ET *

Behold, the NEW right hand of God thread. Just kidding.

I will still use that term though, i don't care if the thread is dead or not.

also, I read that article JUST now on the app.

We know that the UFC administered random, unannounced drug testing before UFC 146, in April, 2012.  So, we know the UFC had the policy by then.  But how much earlier, I don't know.  I will keep digging.

Found it!  It was officially announced March 31, 2012.
http://blog.mmaratings.net/2012/04/ufc-announces-random-blood-testing-zero.html 

* Edited at 06.12.2012, 9:51 PM ET *

Hmmmmm..... now THIS is very intriguing!  And honestly, it's probably the combination of that plus the fact that fighters are training too hard for their fights (especially when you consider the nature of super-camps, where the best and most competitive fighters in the world routinely train with each other.... and probably at a rate that's too aggressive for safe training)...

I have also noticed this whole issue of injuries since the fighter insurance thing was put in place. I also just think these guys train too damn hard.

@prodigy- Just think about what fighters were doing before this policy (possibly fighting injured??) I mean look at Donald Cerrone and Anderson Silva..They both were hurt/sick and they still fought..but these fighters are taking the risk of hurting themselves much worse if they don't pull out of a fight..It sucks for us Fans, but I would much rather have a healthy fighter that can give me 2 to 3 fights a year versus a fighter that tries to fake that they are not injured and in return be out for a year if not longer, take Swick for EXAMPLE, He's been out forever..And Gsp, he thought it was a minor tear, then tried to workout and Tore his Knee all to pieces...:( And, you're right Fighters are doing way more explosive workouts then before causing injury if done improperly....

yeah, i'm not knocking them for it. hell, i would do the same thing, i'm not about to go out there in front of 20,000 people and fight with a torn ACL or something. some of these guys might just take these fights anyway because it's their job, it's how they make a living. i think for whatever reason, everyone is just training too hard, and that's mainly the issue.

Before the health insurance, fighters routinely tried to train through injuries and fight through them.  Now, they can afford a better option.  How can we fault them and suspect them of taking advantage of the situation, when they are only trying to protect their long-term career prospects and family security?

I think this insurance is the best thing that could have heppened, and in the long-term, we will see our fighters lasting longer.  And giving us more to cheer about.

Long Live the Fighters!  Father!  The Sleeper Has Awakened!

* Edited at 06.12.2012, 11:42 PM ET *

I stubbed my toe this morning

Alot of them have surgerys coming up, I think theyre legitimate. But this is interesting.

We actually have good news!

Cain Velasquez does NOT have a broken hand, after all, as was reported he possibly had.  We were all waiting to find out.  He is good to go for UFC 152 in Toronto with his rematch with Junior Dos Santos!  Their rematch should co-main event with BJ Penn vs. Rory MacDonald.  Should be a great event, folks. Phew!  

Let's hope everyone is careful from now on.
http://blogs.thescore.com/mma/2012/06/13/javier-mendez-cain-velasquez-does-not-have-a-broken-hand-torontos-ufc-152-targeted-return-date/

* Edited at 06.16.2012, 10:25 AM ET *

Right hand of God felt a little bad.

Im not saying these fighter's don't have legit injuries but now that they have health insurance I think that they are now going to be more likely to pull out of fight's if they have a few injuries, whereas in the past they would've just toughed it out

heavy weights with broken hands isnt exactly a new thing with the health plan, its just what happens when really strong people hit each other really really hard in small gloves- when you spread a few oz of padding over a hand as big as some of these guys it isnt very thick

@live2wrestle, i see your point, i expect they also now dont have the choice in the matter of not reporting injuries, what you used to be able to brush under the carpet and keep in house as it were now your doctors bills going to the ufc, they will know about your injury and cant be seen by the commissons to be encouraging injured fighters to fight.

With all UFC fans waiting for the surprisingly high number of injuries to abate, the avalanche just continues.  

June 18, 2012 - Daniel Sarafian in injured and out of UFC 147.  Daniel was a TUF Brazil finalist.
http://bleacherreport.com/tb/d7Mtl?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=mma 

June 18, 2012 - Big Nog injured.  Out of UFC 149.  He was slated to fight Cheick Kongo. 
http://bleacherreport.com/tb/d7Mss?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=mma 

* Edited at 06.18.2012, 8:23 PM ET *

I fail to see your point.

Was that a dune reference @bill?