Karolina Kowalkiewicz hopes MMA career isn’t over after having titanium plate inserted in broken eye socket following brutal head kick
- Karolina Kowalkiewicz lost to Xianon Yan at UFC Fight Night Auckland
- The Pole sustained damage to both of her eyes and has undergone surgery
- A titanium plate was inserted and she posted pictures on her Instagram
- The 34-year-old is hopeful that she will be able to fight in MMA again
UFC star Karolina Kowalkiewicz says she may have to retire after having surgery on a broken eye following a fierce head kick by Xianon Yan on February 22.
The Pole, on her Instagram story, thanked all those who had supported her after she went under the knife in Warsaw, Poland, and a titanium plate was inserted into her right eye.
She suffered the injury during her defeat to Yan at UFC Fight Night Auckland and she hopes it wasn’t her last fight in Mixed Martial Arts.
Karolina Kowalkiewicz posts a selfie on her Instagram surgery of her face after surgery
The 34-year-old thanked her fans for their support after going under the knife in Poland
The Pole was on the receiving end of some vicious shots by her opponent Xionan Yan
She said on her story: ‘I hope it wasn’t my last fight but now I’m focused on my health.’
The 34-year-old posted an emotional video on her social media last week, saying that surgery was required and admitting ‘for the first time in my life after a fight, I cannot say I’m okay.
‘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.’
Kowalkiewicz last week posted an emotional video describing what happened in Auckland
The 34-year-old had severe bruises on her face after she fought till the end of the fight
It was controversial at the time that the fight was allowed to continue, with Kowalkiewicz sustaining facial scars between the first and second rounds.
Yet the ringside doctor allowed the bout to continue and the Pole did finish the fight before her Chinese opponent was ultimately awarded the victory via a unanimous decision.
Her injuries in the end were so severe she had to stay in New Zealand for a few days wearing an eye patch, before she went home to Poland.