MODESTAS BUKAUSKAS’ journey back to the UFC was a roller coaster of emotions, to say the least.
And that’s putting aside the potentially career-changing knee injury he suffered in the final fight of his first octagon stint.
GETTYModestas Bukauskas returns to the UFC tonight after 19 months away[/caption]
The Lithuanian-born Brit suffered a horrific knee injury in his last outing and was cut soon thereafterGETTY
INSTAGRAM@MODYB24Bukauskas’ road to recovery was a long and arduous one and left him in a dark place[/caption]
INSTAGRAM@MODYB24But he never gave up hope of returning to the octagon[/caption]
The Lithuanian-born Brit’s first run in the promotion came to an end in 2021 shortly after suffering his third consecutive loss on the spin to Khalil Rountree, who blew out his right knee with a hellacious stomping oblique kick.
Many fighters have crumbled mentally after being axed from mixed martial arts’ premier promotion, but that can’t be said of The Baltic Gladiator.
He bounced back with consecutive wins in Cage Warriors to become a two-time light-heavyweight champion
But that success, along with a second UFC call-up for a short-notice clash in Australia this weekend, came after arguably one of the darkest periods of his life.
The 29-year-old told SunSport: “Emotionally, it was a very dark place. But I kept myself motivated.
“So directly after everything, I processed what happened and I knew what I wanted to do and what I was going to do to get back. And the journey starts now.
“It feels like, once again, a dream come true because we went to the top of the mountain and tumbled down.
“And having to go through a lot of hard times. The journey itself makes this moment a lot more special. And the story itself becomes more special.
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“The fact I’ve had to go through so much adversity to get to this point. That’s why emotionally, it meant a lot to me.
“But this time around, I’m going to make 100 per cent sure that I do it right this time.”
Bukauskas was on the way home from training when his manager gave him the call that he was once again back in the promised land.
Understandably, he was overcome with a wave of primal emotion.
He recalled: “As I was driving home, he gave me a video call and he never normally gives me a video call.
“So I literally swerved over to the other side of the road and pulled over.
“I thought he was going to tell me the guy had declined the fight [scheduled Cage Warriors title defence] or it fell through.
“And he goes, ‘What’s your weight like?’ And I go, ‘Well, I’m not fat, so that’s good.’ I said, ‘Yeah I’m about 220lbs.’
“And he goes, ‘Bro you’re fighting in Australia in two weeks.”
He added: “I burst into tears. I remember on the way back home once I got the call, I was like screaming.
INSTAGAM@MODBY24Bukauskas reclaimed the Cage Warriors LHW title in his journey back to the UFC[/caption]
“I was playing like this f***ing war music in the background and going, ‘Rahhhh.’ Going mad.
“I told my manager, I was telling him as he was telling me the news, ‘You don’t know much I’ve been through.’
“Obviously he knows, but it’s like, ‘Mate, we’ve literally been at the worst place possible, mentally, that I’ve ever been.’
“To come back from that – it’s one thing me saying it, but for me doing it is a whole nother thing.”
Bukauskas has once again been given a baptism of fire for his second octagon debut – which will pit him against Australia’s Tyson Pedro.
But he wouldn’t have it any other way.
He said: “You know me, I want to prove I’m the best.
“When you truly believe you’re the best and truly believe that you can hang with the best of them, [that’s what you do].
“We’re all trying to get the UFC belt. I’m not here to come in and compete and say, ‘I was a UFC fighter.’ Nah, I’m looking to get gold.
GETTYModestas Bukauskas will be welcomed back to the octagon by Tyson Pedro[/caption]
“And this is the route you have to take. I think he’s ranked in the top 30, or whatever. So this is my chance to move up the ranks.”
Bukauskas is a fan of Pedro’s style as of late and believes it will make for a barnburner Down Under.
He said: “He’s a very experienced opponent, he’s very good, but he’s also coming off a knee injury.
“And he’s fought two guys who he pretty much swept the floor with and I’m not going to be that guy that you’re going to sweep the floor with.
“This is my chance to really show my full skillset so I’m looking forward to it.”
“I believe it will be a very tactical game trying to figure out each other’s movements because I’m a switch-stance fighter and he’s a fake-type fighter from City Kickboxing.
“I do believe it will be like a game of chess, but there will be a lot of violence involved here as we’re both going to go out for the finish.
“And that’s what I believe will happen, that I will go out and get the finish. When two guys are going for the finish, that’s what makes for a spectacular showing.
“But I believe I’ll be getting my hand raised.”
*Watch UFC® 284: MAKHACHEV vs. VOLKANOVSKI on Saturday February 11, live on BT Sport 1. Coverage starts from 1am, with early prelims on UFC FIGHT PASS starting at 11:00pm