Alan Patrick Out of UFC 179 with Fractured Jaw (Warning: Graphic Image)

---

Brazilian lightweight Alan Patrick has been forced to withdraw from his UFC 179 matchup against Beneil Dariush after suffering a gruesome jaw injury.

Patrick this week spoke with Sherdog.com about the accident, which took place last Thursday during sparring at X-Gym in Rio de Janeiro.

“I was training and was hit by a knee. I was using a mouthguard, but it hit the bottom of my mouth,” Patrick told Sherdog.com. “I have never been hit by such a knee before. It went right into my chin. Now, I will have to put a titanium plate on my chin. If I wasn’t going to be hit anymore, I wouldn’t have to do it, but as a fighter, I have to be cautious.”

Patrick said he hasn’t even fully explained his situation to the UFC yet, but despite being in no condition to fight on Oct. 25, “Nuguette” still expects to return to the Octagon in 2014.

“I’m sending my exams to the UFC, pictures and everything else. I was so much into fighting in the event. [Rio] and Las Vegas is where all fighters want to fight,” said Patrick. “In about a month, I’ll be able to resume doing cardio, and after another month, I’ll resume with the soft-contact training. I expect to fight in December.”

Patrick’s dentist, Dr. Mariana Barros, provided more detailed information about the fighter’s condition and the procedure he will undergo.

“It was an incomplete fracture of the jaw, which means only the inside bone, which holds the teeth, has broken,” Barros said. “Immediately, we were able to put it back and contain it, but the next step is to undergo surgery so we can put in a plate and make his bone stronger, so he won’t have any future problems.”

Barros also explained why fighters don’t use double mouthguards -- for both upper and lower teeth -- and why such a mouthpiece could have caused more trouble for Patrick.

“His personalized mouthguard was essential in Alan’s situation. It could have been a lot worse. He could have had a complete fracture or a maxillary fracture as well. He was lucky to be wearing the mouthguard,” explained Barros. “We don’t recommend the double mouthguard. It potentializes the risk of a complete jaw fracture. That was the least that could have happened to him.”