Bellator star breaks five ribs, punctures lung with horror kick from hell

A body kick from Bellator 274 finished a fight in just 38 seconds but the aftermath has left one fighter with a devastating injury list.

Chance Rencountre suffered five broken ribs and a punctured lung in his defeat to Bellator vet Andrey Koreshkov last weekend.

The Team Alliance standout locked horns with the ex-welterweight king last Sunday morning at Bellator 274.

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But their eagerly-anticipated bout was over in a mere 38 seconds after Koreshkov landed a sickening spinning-back kick flush.

Rencountre collapsed in agony and took five unanswered blows to the head before the referee called a halt to proceedings.

🌪 Vintage Koreshkov!🦵💥

The spinning back kick once again gets the job done for The Spartan! ⚔️

Watch #Bellator274 LIVE on @SHOSports. pic.twitter.com/Tk24syPPbj

— BellatorMMA (@BellatorMMA) February 20, 2022

And after the fight, the former UFC welterweight’s manager revealed the devastating effects of Koreshkov’s trademark back kick.

Along with pictures of the x-ray and Rencountre in hospital, Brian Butler-Au, wrote: “@blackeagle_170 suffered 5 broken ribs, a punctured lung from the heel kick landed by @koreshmmarus last night.

“Not the outcome we wanted but the kick was well placed and would have stopped anyone.

“Next time we will get a full camp and come back stronger.

“Chance is in good spirits and prepping for surgery.

“Thank you to the @bellatormma team who has been tremendous with all their assistance.

“Congratulations to @koreshmmarus and his team on the victory.”

USA Today reporter Nolan King said that despite the devastating injury, Rencountre still walked “all the way from the medical area to the loading dock under his own power last night. What a savage.”

MMA Junkie’s Matthew Wells tweeted: “Koreshkov just put a dent in Rencountre’s body with that spinning back kick...Damn...”

Rencountre shared an image from hospital. Photo: Instagram

Despite being hospitalised, Rencountre was in good spirits, writing on Instagram: “Feeling pretty chipper for a man with 5 broken ribs, a punctured lung half full of blood and a bruised kidney.

“Not the way I’d envisioned my Bellator return playing out but congratulations to @koreshmmarus and a big thank you to all the @bellatormma staff for all their hard work both pre and post-fight.

“I’m feeling very well taken care of. S**t happens. Thanks to everyone for their support and well wishes.

“Imma get me some metal wrapped around my ribs and come back like Wolverine with the adamantium skeleton.”

This story first appeared in The Sun and was republished with permission.

Originally published as Bellator star breaks five ribs, punctures lung with horror kick from hell