Nick Catone Suffers Torn ACL in UFC 169 Split Decision Win

UFC middleweight Nick Catone hadn’t fought in more than a year heading into his UFC 169 bout with Tom Watson in Newark, N.J. on Saturday, and he will not be returning to action any time soon.

Catone (10-4) defeated Watson (16-7) by split decision on the event’s preliminary card and did so with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. The 32-year-old revealed the injury via Twitter following the fight.

“Happy to get my hand raised tonight. Unfortunately I’m stuck in a terrible hospital in Newark with a torn ACL,” he wrote.

Happy to get my hand raised tonight. Unfortunately I’m stuck in a terrible hospital in Newark with a torn ACL. @ufc #mma

— Nick Catone UFC (@NickCatone) February 2, 2014

The New Jersey native was medically suspended indefinitely following the event pending orthopaedic clearance of his left knee.