UFC Welterweight Rick Story Sidelined 3 Months Following Neck Surgery

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Rick Story’s absence from UFC competition figures to continue until next year.

UFC Tonight reported on Wednesday that the welterweight will be out of action for at least another three months after undergoing neck surgery. Story was reportedly dealing with recurring stingers which made it difficult for the fighter to move his right arm. As a result, Story went under the knife to have bone spurs removed and artificial discs inserted into his neck.

Story is hoping to return to the Octagon sometime in early 2016. “The Horror” was scheduled to face Erick Silva at UFC Fight Night in Saskatchewan on Aug. 23, but the aforementioned injury forced him to withdraw from the card. Prior to that, Story and Silva were supposed to square off on June 27, but visa issues forced the bout to be postponed.

Story has not competed since October 2014, when he captured a split-decision triumph over Gunnar Nelson in the UFC Fight Night Stockholm headliner. The Tacoma, Wash., native has won three of his last four fights within the Las Vegas-based promotion.