UFC Champion Matt Serra Explains Back Injury

Matt Serra will fight Georges St. Pierre for the interm UFC title. (MMAWeekly.com photo)

UFC welterweight champ Matt "The Terror" Serra (9-4-0) says his back injury, which forced him to pull out of his Dec. 29 fight againt Matt Hughes (41-5-0) came out of nowhere.

"I was demonstrating a move," he tells MMAweekly.com. "I was showing somebody something from mount and next thing you know, something felt like it clicked. I've never been stunned by a stun gun before, but that's kind of what it felt like I guess.

"My students had to help me up and I got through the shower pretty painfully. My brother had to get my socks and shoes on and then they took me home. Then, the next day, I went to the hospital, got an MRI. I've got two herniated discs in my lower back."

Although Serra was looking forward to his title defense match against Hughes, he says the extent of the back injury was too great to allow himself to fight.

"I can't even get my socks and shoes on," he explains. "It sucks not being able to fight. I've never had to do that before. What sucks even worse is that it was with Hughes."

Hughes will now fight Canadian Georges St. Pierre (14-2-0) for the interm UFC title. The two have fought twice before, and have one win each.

"I almost don't want to say anything because chances are GSP's going to beat his ass again," Serra says, "I'd rather fight Matt for more than one reason."

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