Krauss out of UFC 138, Finished for 2011 with Shoulder Injury

One month after recovering from a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder -- the same injury which has sidelined UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez for the past 10 months -- the 24-year-old Freiburg native has suffered a dislocated acromioclavicular (AC) joint in his left shoulder during preparation for his bout against Englishman John Hathaway at UFC 138 on Nov. 5.

Although the new shoulder injury will not require surgery, “Panzer” will have to stay in the garage for the next six to eight weeks, making a proper preparation for Hathaway impossible.

“As you can imagine I’m absolutely devastated by wrecking my shoulder again, as well as the news that I won’t be able to fight John,” Krauss told Sherdog.com on Tuesday. “I never had a serious injury in more than 10 years of competing in various combat sports. Training and competing is my passion. Having to sit out for eight months was a total nightmare and the prospect of fighting again this fall was my only silver lining on the horizon. Being on the shelf again now is just disheartening. I just hope I can make a complete recovery one more time and come back an even stronger Panzer in 2012!”

Krauss rose from the regional German circuit to the top of the European rankings within 30 months between 2008 and 2010. After winning the Cage Warriors Fighting Championship welterweight title, he was signed by the UFC in August 2010.

The Gregor Herb student made his promotional debut at UFC 122 in Oberhausen, Germany, on Nov. 13, 2010, against previously once-beaten Team Kaobon submission specialist Mark Scanlon. Following a three-round war, Krauss was awarded a unanimous decision, as well as “Fight of the Night” honors.

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