Karolina Kowalkiewicz reveals injuries suffered at UFC Auckland, headed for surgery to repair damage

Karolina Kowalkiewicz will be headed for surgery in the aftermath of her loss at UFC Auckland.

The former strawweight title contender lost a lopsided unanimous decision to Yan Xiaonan over three rounds as part of the main card from New Zealand. It was her fourth loss in a row overall.

According to Kowalkiewicz, she suffered an eye injury during the opening round that hampered her vision for the remainder of the fight. In a video posted to her Instagram on Sunday, the 34-year-old Polish fighter revealed the extent of her injuries while adding that she will be headed for surgery to repair the damage done.

“First time in my life after fight, I cannot say I’m OK,” Kowalkiewicz stated. “Like you see, in the beginning of the first round I have broken small bone [below my eye]. I couldn’t see nothing. My vision was double and everything was like in the fog. After the fight, I spent all day in hospital.

“Today I’m going to specialist and they make decision. Because I need operation and I’m waiting on decision here or I can go back to Poland and make this operation in Poland. The doctors said I have to stay here because flying with this eye is very dangerous.”

Courtesy of Karolina Kowalkiewicz’s Instagram

Judging by the placement of her injury, Kowalkiewicz likely suffered a broken orbital bone, which is a fairly common injury in mixed martial arts. Due the swelling caused by the injury, doctors will often restrict athletes from flying due to the pressurized cabin on an airplane.

Since falling to Joanna Jedrzejczyk in her bid to become UFC champion back in 2016, Kowalkiewicz has gone just 2-5 with wins over Felice Herrig and Jodie Esquibel and losses to Claudia Gadelha, Jessica Andrade, Michelle Waterson, Alexa Grasso and Yan on Saturday night.