SAO PAULO, Brazil — Elizeu Zaleski scored his fourth win in a row at UFC Sao Paulo, but he was not supposed to step inside the Octagon.
Zaleski, who beat Max Griffin via unanimous decision Saturday night, had to undergo surgery 12 days before the fight after suffering a compound fracture.
"I had an open fracture on my right foot, the pinky toe,” Zaleski told MMA Fighting. "The bone wasn’t fractured, but it cut the skin and tore the ligaments and the bone was out."
Zaleski was advised by his doctors not to train and compete, but decided to go on regardless.
"I underwent a microsurgery and didn’t train for two days,” he said. "I wasn’t supposed to train or fight, but I wanted this really bad."
The CM System talent was victorious in Sao Paulo, and had a special surprise prepared for him. When he got back to his locker room after the win, Zaleski was informed by his coaches that he will become a father.
“I’m really happy,” Zaleski said. “The win is so important for me, my family, my team and my city, and being a father is amazing. I can’t even explain it. It’s a dream come true."