UFC lightweight Nikolas Motta recently underwent surgery to repair a fractured jaw sustained during his action-packed bout against Nazim Sadykhov at UFC Baku last month. The thrilling fight earned both competitors a $100,000 Fight of the Night bonus, but Motta left the octagon with a second-round knockout loss and a significant injury.
Recounting the injury, Motta explained that he felt the impact early in the second round after being hit by a cross. “F*ck, that one hurt,” he recalled thinking, initially believing he had just broken a tooth. Post-fight medical exams, which are standard procedure after a TKO or KO loss, revealed two distinct fractures in his jaw.
His immediate plans to return to Thailand, the location of his training camp for the fight, were cancelled. Instead, Motta traveled to Las Vegas to consult a specialist and receive treatment. Doctors discovered that a cyst related to a wisdom tooth had previously weakened his jawbone, making it more susceptible to fracturing upon impact.
“It sucked, I couldn’t chew anything,” Motta said with a laugh, describing the immediate aftermath. He promptly headed to Vegas for the necessary surgical procedure.
During the surgery, a titanium plate was inserted to stabilize the fracture. Motta shared a lighthearted moment, mentioning that fellow fighter Rafael dos Anjos sent him an X-ray of his own face, “full of titanium plates,” as a sign of solidarity and proof that one can still achieve success after such injuries. Joking that the surgery has made him feel like “The Terminator,” the Brazilian lightweight expressed gratitude for the $100,000 bonus, which provides crucial financial support during his forced layoff.
Motta`s recovery from the jaw surgery is expected to take around eight weeks before he can resume training. He also plans to have his three remaining wisdom teeth removed in the coming months, a procedure requiring about a week off for recovery.
Motta stated his goal for the fight was to deliver his best performance yet. He even discussed the possibility of earning a bonus with his coach before walking out to the octagon, lightheartedly asking about paying a percentage, prompting amusement from his manager later. “Motherf*cker, Motta got me,” his manager joked.
While he ultimately lost the fight by knockout, Motta believes that had he won less spectacularly, he might not have received such a substantial bonus. Coming off a two-fight winning streak (a knockout over Tom Nolan and a decision over Maheshate Hayisaer), he felt less pressure about his job security. Motta reflected that being less anxious about the outcome in this specific fight helped him perform at his best, leading to the bonus-winning “Fight of the Night.”
Motta acknowledged his competitive nature but reflected that sometimes excessive worry about results and the future can hinder performance. “I’m too f*cking competitive, we always want to win,” he said. “But there are times where we worry too much about the future and the result and we end up not fighting so well… It kind of made me more free to fight the best way possible.”
