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UFC president Dana White has revealed graphic images of welterweight champion Kamaru Usman undergoing hand surgery.
Usman, 34, broke his right hand just weeks before he was due to face Colby Covington in their rematch at UFC 268 in November.
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Rather than postpone the fight, Usman opted to battle through the pain and was rewarded with a unanimous decision victory – his 19th straight win in MMA.
'The Nigerian Nightmare' has now undergone surgery to correct the injury.
WARNING – GRAPHIC IMAGES BELOW
UFC president White provided an update to fans by posting images of Usman’s hand being prised open during corrective surgery.
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White posted the images to his social media accounts, alongside the caption: “Pound for pound best fighter in the world @USMAN84kg had hand ligament surgery today.
“This is the before and after. See you soon CHAMP.”
Usman has revealed that he broke his hand during a sparring session with his training partner, the UFC’s number one ranked lightweight Justin Gaethje.
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He said on the Full Send Podcast: “I broke it before the fight. Most people didn’t know that.
"I broke it three weeks before, and I didn’t throw it until the day of the fight itself.
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"I didn’t throw it until backstage when you’re warming up before the fight. I didn’t throw my hands for three weeks, my right hand."
He added: “I broke it on someone’s head, Justin Gaethje’s head.”
Usman’s next opponent is yet to be confirmed, but Britain’s Leon Edwards is viewed as a likely candidate.
Edwards lost to Usman via unanimous decision back in 2015 but has gone on to win nine of his 10 fights since then - the one exception being his clash with Belal Muhammad last March which ended as a no contest after an accidental eye poke.
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TSN Sports journalist Aaron Bronsteter claims White has confirmed that Edwards will next face Usman for the welterweight title.
“When I asked if Leon Edwards is next in line to fight for the welterweight championship, Dana White’s reply was ‘100%’,” Bronsteter tweeted.
Topics: UFC, Dana White, Kamaru Usman
Rory O'Callaghan