UFC
Ryan Bader getting pins out of broken hand this week, targeting May return to the Octagon
Jan 20, 2014 - 1:05:01 PM Ryan Bader getting pins out of broken hand this week, targeting May return to the Octagon

DISCUSS ALL THIS IN OUR NEW MMATORCH FORUM

...OH, ONE MORE THING - PLEASE BOOKMARK US & VISIT DAILY!

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Ryan Bader put on an extended beating of Anthony Perosh at UFC Fight Night 33 in December, one which didn't wind up benefiting either of them from a health standpoint. The referee refused to stop the fight on any of the many occasions in which that would have been the appropriate move, and while Perosh absorbed a ton of punishment, Bader wound up breaking his hand badly as well.

Bader's had pins in his hand to set the broken bones and work on the healing process, and he said this weekend that the next step in recovery is coming up this Friday.

"I have these pins in my hand and I'm going a little crazy, but I'm doing what I can do," Bader said in an interview with Duane Finley at BleacherReport.com. "They are coming out next Friday so that will be a good start. I can't sweat right now because I pretty much have an open wound right now. That could easily get infected and go right to the bone, which would be some bad stuff. I get them taken out next week and I can at least get back to doing some cardio to get things moving back toward my return. I'm excited for that."

"They basically drive the pins through your bones to connect one side of the break to the other. They straighten them out under X-ray guidance, and leave the pins sticking out so they are easy to get to when it is time to take them out. They use a pair of pliers and pull them out. I imagine that is going to be fun."

If all goes well with the pin's removal, Bader's hoping to be able to return to training soon. With that, he's hoping that would bring him back to the Octagon by May.

"The doctors are telling me everything will heal fine and be as strong as it was before," Bader said. "I actually broke the metacarpal, which is a different break than they were used to seeing, but it will be good once it heals. Right now I'm thinking it will probably be May. I will have to wear a removable splint another four to six weeks after the pins come out, but I will be able to start getting back into it with physical therapy and other workouts. Realistically I'm thinking I'll be ready to go in May and I'll be excited to get there."

Penick's Analysis: Bader's not planning on being in camp for long once he can return to training it seems, but he has a better handle on what he'll need to be prepared for his return. Thankfully it seems things are healing up on schedule, and getting the pins out is an important step in working back to fight shape when he's been essentially incapacitated on that front for several weeks now.