Following a brutal defeat to Xianon Yan at UFC Fight Night in Auckland, UFC fighter Karolina Kowalkiewicz underwent surgery to have a titanium plate inserted in her broken eye socket after a devastating head kick.
The 34-year-old fighter from Poland, Kowalkiewicz, is determined to continue her career and recently underwent surgery in Warsaw, Poland, to address damage to both of her eyes sustained during the fight with Yan.
In an emotional Instagram video, Kowalkiewicz expressed her gratitude for the support received and detailed the necessity of her surgery for recovery.
Kowalkiewicz also shared her determination to overcome the injury and her enduring love for the sport of UFC despite the challenges faced.
‘Like you see, at the beginning of the first round, I have broken a small bone here. I couldn’t see nothing. My vision was double and everything was like in the fog,’ she said. ‘After the fight, I spent all day in the hospital. S*** happens. I still love this sport and UFC. Don’t worry I’ll be OK.’
In a recent Instagram post, Kowalkiewicz expressed her hope to continue her fighting career and stated her current focus on her health.
The MMA fight between Kowalkiewicz and Yan on February 22 faced controversy as the fight was allowed to continue despite Kowalkiewicz sustaining facial scars between the first and second rounds.
Despite the visible marks across her face, the ringside doctor allowed the match to continue, leading Kowalkiewicz to fight on despite her impaired vision, eventually losing by unanimous decision, marking her fourth consecutive defeat.
Her injuries were so severe that she had to remain in New Zealand for several days with an eye patch before returning home to Poland.