Injury Update: Holly Holm & Julianna Pena Eyeing Early 2015 Returns
With several awaited title fights set to go down in the next few months, the UFC may has a jam-packed schedule, and that’s obviously great news for fight fans across the world.
However, the only reason that we’ll be treated to such a lineup is because 2014 was a year that was hit by injuries like no other.
Huge names like Anderson Silva, Jon Jones, Anthony Pettis, Johny Hendricks, and Alexander Gustafsson will all return from the ailments that ruined their 2014 by the end of January, yet a plethora of fighters still remain on the sidelines.
One of those fighters is former Legacy women’s bantamweight champion Holly Holm, who was supposed to make her awaited debut against Raquel Pennington at this weekend’s (Sat., December 6, 2014) UFC 181 from Las Vegas, but a herniated disk gave her a serious scare. Luckily Ariel Helwani revealed on this evening’s UFC Tonight that “The Preacher’s Daughter” was cleared to hit the bags in training this week. Holm is targeting a February date for her Octagon debut:
Good news from Holly Holm, she is expected to make a full recovery from a herniated disk and is hoping to return in February.
— UFC Tonight (@UFCTonight) December 4, 2014
Another women’s bantamweight who suffered a scary injury will be back sooner than you might have thought, as well. The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 18 champion Julianna Pena, who ruptured most of the major ligaments in her knee during an ill-fated training session last year, has reportedly made a miraculous recovery according to her coach Rick Little:
According to her coach, Julianna Pena could return in March/April 2015. Quite a recovery from her awful knee injury.
— UFC Tonight (@UFCTonight) December 4, 2014
“The Venezuelan Vixen” was expected to be out of the cage for up to two years, yet somehow she has a return timeline of sometime in late March to April. Hopefully she can make it back to full health and return by then, because that would mean she had recovered from what was a senseless tragedy.
One more women’s bantamweight looking to book a fight for early 2015 is No. 5-ranked Sarah Kaufman, who unfortunately had some injuries stemming from a summer car wreck. Kaufman is apparently back to health and looking for a bout with No. 10-ranked Jessica Andrade:
#5 Sarah Kaufman is looking for a fight and is gunning for #10 Jessica Andrade.
— UFC Tonight (@UFCTonight) December 4, 2014
The final name on this list is No. 12-rnaked lightweight Michael “The Menace” Johnson, who has won three straight bouts over at 155 pounds. The Blackzilians team member saw his momentum derailed by a stomach ailment before suffering a broken hand, but is nearing full health and also wants to return sometime in February or March.
It’s hardly a surprise that a barrage of top talent will be returning to the cage soon, and it looks like the women’s bantamweight division will be affected the most.
“The Menace” is also a dark horse contender in the crowded lightweight division, and should draw a top name when he’s ready to fight. Who would you like to see him square off with next?
