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  
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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 *

November 29, 2012 - Lavar Johnson pulled a groin muscle, and is out of his UFC on Fox fight with Brendan Schaub.
http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2012/11/29/3709114/ufc-on-fox-5-lavar-johnson-out-schaub-mma-news

January 2, 2013 - Erick Silva injured.  Must pull out of UFC 156 on February 2, 2013 in Las Vegas.  Tyron Woodley of Strikeforce is brought in to replace him to fight Jay Hieron.
http://www.mmafighting.com/2013/1/2/3829894/ufc-156-fight-card-tyron-woodley-replaces-injured-erick-silva-against-jay-hieron

A few injuries that I missed.



November 22, 2012 - Gray Maynard out of his UFC 155 fight with Joe Lauzon on December 29, 2012.  Replaced by Jim Miller.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1418927-gray-maynard-on-injury-my-knee-was-bothering-me-for-three-years

December 18, 2012 - Karlos Vemola suffered a fractured cheekbone in training, forcing him out of UFC 155 fight with Chris Leben.  Replaced with Derek Brunson.
http://www.mmajunkie.com/news/2012/12/karlos-vemola-out-at-ufc-155-strikeforce-vet-derek-brunson-meets-chris-leben

December 18, 2012 - Cody McKenzie injured, forced out of his UFC 155 fight with Leonard Garcia on December 29, 2012.  Replaced with Max Holloway.
http://www.mmajunkie.com/news/2012/12/cody-mckenzie-out-at-ufc-155-promotion-seeking-new-opponent-for-leonard-garcia


December 24, 2012 - Forrest Griffin tore his MCL and strained his ACL.  Forced out of his UFC 155 fight with Phil Davis on December 29, 2012.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1456385-ufc-forrest-griffin-takes-injury-photo-shows-horribly-mangled-knee

February 26, 2013 - Flyweight champion Demtriouis Johnson out of fight with John Moraga at the Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale.  No word on if the fight will go forward.
http://www.mmafighting.com/2013/2/26/4034334/report-demetrious-johnson-injured-out-of-april-title-defense-against

March 6, 2013 - Alistair Overeem is injured and out of his fight with Junior Dos Santos in UFC 160.  He was replaced with Mark Hunt.
http://www.mmafighting.com/2013/3/6/4072916/alistair-overeem-injured-out-of-ufc-160-fight-against-junior-dos

March 13, 2013 - After injuring his neck, thus forcing him out of his WW fight with Carlos Condit, he reaggravated his neck, thus postponing any fight plans he might have been nurturing.
http://www.mmamania.com/2013/3/13/4100078/ufc-welterweight-rory-macdonald-reaggravates-neck-injury-no-timetable

March 22, 2013 - Dan Hardy was forced out of his fight while training for his WW fight with Matt Brown on Fox 7, and replaced by Jordan Mein.  Wolf Heart or something.
http://www.mmajunkie.com/news/2013/03/injury-forces-dan-hardy-off-ufc-on-fox-7-jordan-mein-now-meets-matt-brown

March 26, 2013 - Featherweight Manny Gamburyan forced out of his fight against Hacran Dias at UFC on FX 8. He was replaced by Nik Lentz.
http://www.mmafighting.com/2013/3/26/4150676/ufc-on-fx-8-fight-card-manny-gamburyan-injured-nik-lentz-vs-hacran-dias

April 1, 2013 - MW CB. Dollaway got injured and replaced by Chris Camozzi in a fight against Cezar Ferreira on UFC on FX8.
http://www.mmafighting.com/2013/4/1/4171692/chris-camozzi-in-for-injured-cb-dollaway-against-cezar-mutante
April 3, 2013 - WW Amir Sadollah forced out of his fight with Stephen Thompson at UFC 160.  He was replaced by Nah-Shon Burrell.
http://www.mmajunkie.com/news/2013/04/amir-sadollah-injured-nah-shon-burrell-now-meets-stephen-thompson-at-ufc-160

April 3, 2013 - Alexander Gustafsson slipped, fell against the cage and tore open a gash under his eyebrow, thus forcing him out of his LHW fight with Gegard Mousasi on UFC on Fuel 9.  He was replaced by Ilir Latifi.
http://www.h4-entertainment.com/2013/04/gustafsson-injured-training-partner-latifi-replaces-him-at-ufc-on-fuel-tv-9/

* Edited at 04.03.2013, 9:02 PM ET *

Is the insurance policy responsible for the high number of injuries?

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1215652-ufc-fighter-insurance-is-it-to-blame-for-the-string-of-injuries

* Edited at 04.04.2013, 1:14 AM ET *

Am I seeing things or is the Injury Avalanche of 2012 recurring?

Demetrious Johnson, Alistair Overeem, Manny Gamburyan, Rory MacDonald, Dan Hardy, CB Dollaway, Amir Sadollah, Alex Gustafsson?

Injuries are common in football, basketball, baseball, hockey and just about every other sport ever played. Why would anyone expect mma to be any different? It's a very physical sport not only while competing but in training as well. No matter what injuries will happen and it won't matter what anyone tries to do about it. It sucks and it sometimes ruins an event but it's going to happen. Accept it and move on.

Expect the increase in numbers to stay, now that they have insurance they no longer need to fight with serious injuries that could affect their performance

I see the insurance coverage as partly why fighters aren't having to fight through serious injuries.

It might be short-term disappointment, but it will be long-term healthier for the fighters.

In the end, it is a big plus and advantage.  

April 10, 2013 - Gunnar Nelson pulled out of a fight with Mike Pyle at UFC 160, citing an injury.  He was replaced by Rick Story.  He tore his ACL and underwent successful surgery.
http://www.espn.co.uk/ufc/sport/story/201646.html

* Edited at 04.22.2013, 9:35 PM ET *

April 25, 2013 - John Hathaway is injured and out of UFC on Fuel TV 10 WW fight with Erick Silva, replaced by Jason High.  It was a colon injury.  Ulcerative colitis.
http://www.kingdommma.co.uk/2013/04/john-hathaway-injured-jason-high-to.html

 April 27, 2013 - Jon Jones dislocated his big left toe.  
http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/Jon-Jones-on-UFC-159-Injury-Broken-Big-Toe-Isnt-Going-to-Slow-Me-Down-52097

April 27, 2013 - Alan Belcher suffered an eye injury in his fight with Michael Bisping at UFC 159, requiring 8 stitches to his surgically repaired right eye.
http://www.mmamania.com/2013/4/28/4278992/ufc-159-results-alan-belcher-receives-eight-stitches-to-eyelid-in-defeat-michael-bisping-mma

May 3, 2013 - TJ Waldburger is out of UFC 161 WW fight with Sean Pierson, replaced by Kenny Robertson.  The nature of the injury was not disclosed.
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/tj-waldburger-ufc-161-match-065421266--mma.html

May 18, 2013 - Renan Barao is out of UFC 161 due to foot injury.  Was an interim title fight with Eddie Wineland.  
http://www.winnipegsun.com/2013/05/21/renan-barao-out-for-ufc-161-in-winnipeg

* Edited at 05.27.2013, 7:48 PM ET *

May 28, 2013 - Cat Zingano injured her knee while training & cannot coach opposite Rousey.  Her defeated opponent will now get to fight Rousey on TUF 18.  Rousey is exultant and celebratory. "This is what we really wanted all along".
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1654700-ufc-reports-cat-zingano-injured-ronda-rousey-vs-miesha-tate-will-coach-tuf-18

* Edited at 05.29.2013, 2:25 AM ET *

Two things that have no place in this thread:

1. Since this thread implies that fighters are more "easily" injured since they've been insured, do you really think there's a chance in frozen hell that Cat's injury falls under that category??? This is the biggest break of her life, insured or not, she had to be really injured to pull out.

2. Any link to Bleacher Report.

I"m a little confused why this is even a thread? Fighters are insured now, they don't HAVE to press thru injuries and pain to make money to pay for all of the doctors bills..... Why don't we start a thread about fighters who were injured before the UFC had fighters insurance....

Fighters still lose "Show money" sponsorships, etc. while not fighting and they still have to fork over the co-pay and run the risk of said injury not being covered.

To think that a fighter would pull out due to a minor injury in the hopes of making some insurance claim  is ridiculous.

I have not suggested that Cat Zingano faked anything.  She obviously has a huge amount of TV media exposure to lose.  So, why are you guys grilling me?  

The thread does suggest that some might have less noble motives, but that is a theory and I am not pointing the finger at any fighter.  

The theory goes that once the insurance came in, fighters didn't have to fight through injuries anymore.  That is why the insurance increased the injuries reportage.  Nothing nefarious or sinister.

A good development, really.  Stop mad-dogging the messenger, people.

Normally I would say that a fighter may opt not to take a risky fight if they don't feel close to 100%, but here I would be more inclined to believe that the UFC paid Zingano under the table to withdraw so that they can promote the much more known Tate name. Part of the reason Ronda is such a star is that she hyped the Tate fight so her name means a lot more than Cat's despite TKOing Meisha.

I am not saying that DID happen, but I wouldn't punch anyone in the throat that swore it did.

May 27, 2013 - Todd Duffee injured, but won't say what it is.
http://www.mmajunkie.com/news/2013/05/todd-duffee-wont-reveal-nature-of-injury-but-shooting-for-late-2013-ufc-return


May 30, 2013 - John Makdessi is out of his UFC 162 fight with Edson Barboza.  Rafaello Oliveira steps in.
http://www.mmafighting.com/2013/5/30/4382024/edson-barboza-faces-rafaello-oliveira-at-ufc-162-following-john

June 1, 2013 - Shane del Rosario out of his UFC 162 fight with Dave Herman.  Gabriel Gonzaga steps in as replacement.
http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2013/6/1/4385912/ufc-162-dave-herman-vs-gabriel-gonzaga-injury-shane-del-rosario-mma-news

June 2, 2013 - Antonio Nogueira (Little Nog) is injured, possibly his back.  He is out of his UFC 161 fight on June 15 at Winnipeg, Canada, with Shogun Rua.  They're looking for a replacement before they cancel the fight.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1659419-ufc-161-antonio-rogerio-nogueira-reportedly-injured-before-fight-vs-shogun-rua?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=mma

* Edited at 06.03.2013, 10:32 PM ET *

hmm, I didn't see Mark Hunt's toe injury in here.

This. is. ridiculous. their is no incentive to withdraw due to injury. . . .

Take off the tin foil hat and stick to chemtrails or UFO's