Many combat sports fans had their eyes on the ‘Ring of Fire’ boxing event on May 18 but despite flying under the radar, UFC Vegas 92 still produced several headlines. While there were the usual highlight-reel finishes, no UFC APEX card would be the same without including uncanny mishaps, such as the ending of the preliminary fight between Melissa Gatto and Tamires Vidal.
In the fifth fight of the night, Gatto polished off a victory over Vidal with the official stoppage coming 37 seconds into the third round. The result was not surprising with Gatto being a large favorite but it would be how she finished the fight that raised eyebrows.
Melissa Gatto’s unorthodox win over Tamires Vidal at UFC Vegas 92
Melissa Gatto gets the win after Tamires Vidal's delayed reaction 😳 #UFCVegas92 pic.twitter.com/wooliXIhK0
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) May 18, 2024
Entering the fight as one of the biggest favorites of UFC Vegas 92, Melissa Gatto established firm control over Tamires Vidal in her bantamweight debut. Gatto, 28, proved to be the better athlete and technical fighter, racking up over six minutes of control time and limiting Vidal to just 14 significant strikes entering the third round, per the official UFC stats.
But just 30 seconds into the final round, Gatto landed a jab to the body of Vidal that caused the Brazilian to request the referee to stop the fight. The in-fight official, Chris Tognoni, would not validate the request, allowing Gatto to pursue a defenseless opponent who backed away and curled up against the fence while holding her chest the entire time.
Tognoni would then intervene, stopping the fight and awarding Gatto with a TKO victory. As Vidal lay in the fetal position continuing to hold her left chest, the referee would explain to cage-side physicians and the fighter’s cornermen that he recognized the breast pain the fighter felt but the punch was not illegal and therefore could not warrant an official stoppage.
What happened to Tamires Vidal at UFC Vegas 92?
Though it is impossible to tell what happened to Tamires Vidal without an official statement from the fighter, it was clear she suffered a breast injury, whether it stemmed from the fight or reaggravated a previous incident.
In a study done by the European Journal of Breast Health, such injuries are more common than many initially think of with roughly 50 percent of collegiate athletes in the United States reporting at least one breast injury in their careers. While many are minor pains, some can be more debilitating.
Per the University of Wollongong in Australia, serious breast injuries left untreated can cause severe pain for weeks while negatively affecting athletic performance. Multiple sources have also reported that certain bodily factors can increase the potential for pain and injury in the breast, including pregnancy, lactation, and menstruation.
Both studies conducted report that the sports with the highest risk of breast injury are those with the potential for force to be thrust on the area, such as a push or a punch.
The University of Wollongong also states that the best prevention for such injuries involves protective attire. However, female fighters in the UFC are not permitted to wear such clothing.
About the Author
Jaren Kawada is a freelance sports writer from Indianapolis, Indiana with a strong passion for MMA and sports betting. Kawada has also written for Sportskeeda MMA, FanSided MMA, and BetSided as a combat sports analyst.
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