It has been over four years since the last time Cristiano Marcello competed, with that bout being a loss to Joe Proctor at UFC Fight Night 36.
The toll of being an MMA fighter has taken affect on Marcello, who recently underwent surgeries on both of his knees.
?I have these injuries since my jiu-jitsu days in the 90?s,? Marcello said to MMA Fighting. ?I tore both of my ligaments, but kept postponing the surgery for 20 years. When I went to California with Bethe (Correia), I kept training there and hurt my left knee. When I called my physical therapist Leandro Karan, he imagined it was my meniscus and we started planning the surgery. I saw I wouldn?t be able to train, I wouldn?t be 100 percent for the fight, so I decided to do both knees.?
Marcello was expected to return after the four year hiatus to compete this December at a Brave FC event, but those plans have been halted until next year.
No matter what plans Marcello has for his fighting future, one huge factor to help the fighter move forward is that the surgeries were a success.
?The doctor said surgery was a success,? Marcello said. ?Despite the fact that I?ve been competing in sports for 30 years, he liked the result of the surgery and called it a success.?
A recovering Marcello won just one of four during his time with the UFC, with that lone victory coming over Reza Madadi at UFC 153.