Mateus Mendonca Suffers Rare Injury, Turns to Raffles for Support

Mateus Mendonca

Former UFC fighter Mateus Mendonca has faced an unexpected and painful injury after fracturing his penis during a grappling session in Maranhão, Brazil. The 25-year-old underwent emergency surgery in São Paulo and has been advised to avoid training or teaching martial arts for the next two months.

The injury occurred during a routine jiu-jitsu training session when Mendonça’s teammate accidentally landed a knee on him, causing excruciating pain. Recalling the incident, Mendonça shared,

“I was training with [a teammate], and he landed his knee on my penis, and I felt an absurd pain and went to the bathroom.”

Initially dismissing the severity, Mendonça later noticed abnormal swelling and sought medical attention.

“My girl told me to go to the hospital, and they did an ultrasound exam and told me to go to a different hospital right away for emergency surgery,” he explained.

Currently sidelined from training, Mendonça has been forced to find alternative ways to support his family. The fighter, who trains at the esteemed Chute Boxe Diego Lima gym alongside former UFC lightweight champion Charles Oliveira, has turned to social media to promote raffles to generate income. Items up for grabs include his UFC shirt and gloves, and cherished memorabilia from his MMA career.

Despite a challenging stint in the UFC where he went winless in three bouts across bantamweight and flyweight, Mendonça made a triumphant return to competition in October. He secured a 20-second kneebar victory over Luan Matheus in a featherweight contest, improving his professional record to 11-3.

While the road ahead involves recovery and financial strain, Mendonça remains focused on his family and future.

“The doctor told me to avoid training and teaching for two months,” he said. “I have a little daughter, and I brought my family with me to São Paulo to start training.”

This unusual injury highlights the physical risks MMA fighters face, even outside the cage. Mendonça’s resilience and resourcefulness reflect his determination to overcome adversity both as an athlete and as a father.