Ariane Carnelossi undergoes successful back surgery days after UFC 261 win

Ariane Carnelossi went under the knife days after her UFC 261 stoppage victory over Na Liang to fix a back injury, and the procedure was deemed a success, she revealed on social media.

“Sorriso” earned her first octagon victory with a second-round TKO over Liang in Jacksonville, Fla., on April 24, and remained in the city to have the procedure done. Exams showed Carnelossi had a slipped disc, the same injury that forced her to undergo surgery in 2020.

“During the fight week I was in a lot of pain and could barely walk,” Carnelossi wrote on social media on Thursday. “I thought I would not be able to fight. But the care of [UFC PI director of physical therapy Dr. Heather Linden] allowed me to go to the fight! I fought and won! After the fight, the pain returned and I had to go to the doctor, who detected a spinal injury. So I will have to have surgery.”

Carnelossi updated her status on Thursday night, informing that “the surgery was successful.” The UFC strawweight will stay in Jacksonville for four week for physical therapy before returning to Brazil, she wrote on social media.

Carnelossi, 13-2 as a professional, signed with the UFC in 2019 after winning 12 in a row in the Brazilian circuit following a debut loss to Amanda Ribas, and lost to Angela Hill in her first octagon appearance.