Ryan Benoit documents broken cheekbone suffered at UFC 185
Ryan Benoit picked up a big win on Saturday night at UFC 185 when he stopped highly touted prospect Sergio Pettis with a crushing knockout just a minute-and-a-half into round two of their flyweight matchup in Dallas.
The first round saw Pettis in complete control as he popped Benoit with a number of punches before the second time UFC fighter rallied a comeback to get the knockout win.
The victory didn't come without a cost, however, as Benoit suffered a broken zygomatic bone in his face, also known as the cheekbone, as a result of his fight with Pettis. At the time when the injury happened, Benoit thought he suffered a broken jaw and it forced him to come out guns blazing in the second round, which then led to the finish.
"I could tell something was wrong in my face -- I just couldn't tell what it was," Benoit told FOX Sports. "I thought my jaw was broken. I had a hard time taking my mouthguard out between the round and then when I put it back in, (it) was really awkward to open my mouth."
Benoit posted pictures of the immense swelling in his face since the fight was over, documenting each day to show just how bad the cheek has been looking after his first win in the Octagon.
The UFC youngster stands by the fact that the end result was exactly the strategy he had in mind, though he certainly didn't plan on suffering a broken cheekbone as a result.
"I was hunting for a knockout, trying to give the crowd a show . . . I ended up taking a lot of damage in the process," Benoit said.
"When he dropped I wasn't too shocked because that's what I was aiming for the entire fight. That was my game plan, to bait him in close during round two and then KO him. When it landed, then I just finished him off the same way I have finished a lot of my opponents. Punches in bunches until the ref steps in."
The injury suffered in the first round didn't cost Benoit the win, but it did land him an indefinite suspension from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.
Benoit will need medical clearance once the bone heals so he can be lifted from the restricted list and allowed to fight again, although he doesn't expect any adversity from the broken cheekbone and should return in due time.
Right now, Benoit just wants to be able to open his mouth so he can enjoy the spoils of his victory over Pettis. Thanks to the broken cheekbone, Benoit still hasn't been able to eat or chew regularly because his mouth is barely functioning right now.
"The doctor says my jaw bone is rubbing the bones in my cheek -- that's why it won't open," Benoit explained.
Benoit underwent surgery already this week and while his face doesn't exactly scream that he's ready for a four-course meal, at least he's on the road to recovery.
The injury, while certainly painful and rather annoying, still can't dull Benoit's happiness from picking up such a massive win in only his second UFC fight, nor will it dampen his anticipation to heal and return to the Octagon later this year in hopes of continuing his climb toward the top of the UFC flyweight rankings.
