American mixed martial artist Jonathan King suffered an horrific broken leg in just his second fight.
*WARNING: Graphic content below*
King, who was ranked ninth in the Louisiana light heavyweight, took on Chris Williams on the card of American Kombat Alliance’s Rite of Passage 6 at the weekend, which took place at the Horseshoe Casino Riverdome in Louisiana.
Yet the action had to be brought to an abrupt end in the very first round when King, who before the fight held a 1-0 amateur record, suffered a broken leg when attempting a low kick. The referee immediately waved off the bout and called for medical attention, with Williams awarded the victory by TKO.
The sight of King’s gruesome injury looked hauntingly similar to the one suffered by UFC great Anderson Silva, who snapped his leg while fighting Chris Weidman at UFC 168 in December 2013.
American Kombat Alliance confirmed that King broke both his fibula and tibia in his right leg, but added in a statement that he has already undergone successful surgery.
“Jonathan King just got out of recovery this morning,” the statement read. “The doctor said surgery to set the leg went really well. Physical therapy starts tomorrow (Monday) morning and he should be cleared to travel home this week.
“(It was a) Nasty break. We wish a speedy recovery to Jonathan King.”
King posted a picture from his hospital bed on his Facebook account to provide fans with an update and thank them for their messages of support, adding that he plans on making a full comeback once he recovers from the injuries.
“I can’t express enough how thankful and appreciative I am of all the people who have checked on me, prayed for me, called me messaged me,” King wrote. “It really means so much to me! I will back and a better!! Much love.”
However, King can unsurprisingly expect a long and draining rehabilitation. It took Silva 13 months before he was seen in the UFC again, though the Brazilian has since fought four times and avoided any recurrence of the injury.
Jose Landi-Johns, another MMA fighter who suffered a similar injury in February 2008, and needed 17 months of rehab before he was able to fight again.
