When she steps into the cage this weekend, it will be nearly two years to the day since the last time Justine Kish fought. A bout with Ji Yeon Kim, who is now the #14 ranked flyweight in the world, ended in a split decision that Kish had thought she won. While the loss getting away was tough for Kish, a large part of the reason why was the same reason why we have yet to see her since early 2018. 

“I suffered another knee injury my last fight. This is actually my 4th knee surgery,” Kish explained. “It didn’t hold up so I had to get it fixed again, and had a complete reconstruction - ACL, MCL, PCL, meniscus”

With virtually everything in her knee fully torn (she notes that the meniscus was just partially torn), there was no way that she could make it back to the cage quickly. However, that didn’t stop her from trying to make it much faster. 

After attempting stem cell treatment, she realized the pain was going down, but the stability of the knee was still an issue. After a consult with two doctors who didn’t think she could have surgery and make a comeback, she found one that was confident she could do it, but it would take the time. 

“There was no rush to get back into it. I’ve rushed before and got back a little earlier than I had to, but then I had to get it fixed again,” she said. “So this time I was just going to take the full time.”

Although it seems like a long and arduous process, Kish was doing so much so often that she found recovery and the subsequent training to be quick. 

“Man, that sounds like a long time, but I swear it flew by,” Kish said. “The surgery was in Los Angeles, my recovery was in Las Vegas, then once I was cleared I started my training camp in Thailand, and finished in China. Went back to Vegas to decompress and get back on USA time, and now I’m in Los Angeles polishing up camp and making sure my coaches see all I’ve been doing.”

The recovery had a lot to do with her own will to fight again, but she also credits the UFC and her sponsors for giving her the means to dedicate herself to being the best version of herself. 

“Thank goodness for the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas and the one in Shanghai, China. I fully utilized the PI. It just took the time. The full year of recovery and physical therapy,” she said. “My normal coaches didn’t go with me. I kind of wanted to change things up - I don’t want to be predictable when I return to the Octagon.”

This new version of herself that is less predictable is quite different from the version we saw in 2018. This is in large part due to watching her skills deteriorate away and then rebuilt within an entirely new program. 

“Things are very different compared to last time... I met new coaches. In Shanghai there’s an MMA academy out there, they have a combine program for mixed martial arts,” she said. “After being out for almost two years, these sort of skills are perishable, so I got to instill the fundamentals and I have to do so sharply and make sure it’s precise.”

This MMA academy combine was programmed to allow her to rebuild her game piece by piece, which is something she thinks is going to be beneficial come Saturday.