It’s been over a year since we last saw Chinese flyweight Su Mudaerji in action, and when he returns to the cage at UFC Vegas 83 this Saturday, it won’t be in a flyweight fight.
Instead, a short-notice pairing with Tim Elliott — replacing Allan Nascimento — has seen the fight bumped up to 135lbs. That’s just fine with Mudaerji, a big flyweight who admitted he walks around at about 66kg, or just north of 145lbs.
As for the extended absence of “The Tibetan Eagle,” it came down to a severe knee injury.
“I tore my ACL before my last fight,” Mudaerji revealed during this week’s UFC Vegas 83 media day. “After my last fight, I had an operation to repair my ACL. And after that, I had rehab and exercise.”
Mudaerji was supposed to make his return at home in China, with this weekend’s UFC Fight Night event originally scheduled for Shanghai. The card was later shifted to Las Vegas. As for the name he’s now facing, “my first thought after I got the name is, this guy’s got a lot of experience in the UFC,” noted Mudaerji. “Because he’s been around for quite a long time, I know this guy.”
And since he knows Elliott, Su Mudaerji is familiar with his style. Or as familiar as one can be with Elliott’s output. Stating that he doesn’t have any plan for the fight, “maybe [Elliott] don’t have any plan also,” said Mudaerji. “[Elliott]’s style is quite unique in the UFC.”
Watch the full UFC Vegas 83 media day appearance by Su Mudaerji above.
