O UFC 309, held in November, was the scene of one of the most remarkable victories of Charles of the Bronx. In the fight against Michael chandler, the former lightweight champion (up to 70,3 kg.) not only lived up to his reputation, but also put on a show of physical and mental resilience. Behind the unanimous victory was a fighter who, until moments before the fight, was dealing with one of the worst types of injuries: a virtually compromised knee.
During an interview on the compatriot's channel Gilbert Durinho, the Brazilian fighter opened his heart and shared details of his preparation for the fight, where the focus was far from conventional training.
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“I was training well, flying, and suddenly ‘poof’. I felt unbearable pain, I ran to the hospital, my knee was ‘that big’, it stretched, two ligaments burst”, he recalled.
The initial diagnosis was clear: he would be unable to train for 4 to 6 weeks, with his knee swollen and in a cast. As the pain took over his body, Charles found himself faced with a dilemma. His wife, who had witnessed the fighter's daily suffering, even suggested that he postpone the fight. However, Charles' persistence spoke louder.
“I couldn’t walk away from this fight. If my head was right, I knew I could win,” he declared.
Charles from the Bronx had to adapt the game
But the situation was not easy. To maintain his physique, Charles focused on weight training, since any other exercise, such as jiu-jitsu or muay thai training, was out of the question.
“A lot of people thought I was lifting weights to prepare for Chandler’s strength, but really, it was the only thing I could do,” he said.
Currently 35 years old, Charles of the Bronx has 35 wins and ten losses on his record. Among his greatest achievements are victories over big names in the UFC, such as Dustin poirier, Justin gaethje Kevin Lee, Tony Ferguson of course, Michael chandler.
Read More about: Charles of the Bronx, Michael Chandler, UFC, UFC 309
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