Cuki: ‘The Crank’ in good spirits

Marianas mixed martial arts fighter Frank “The Crank” Camacho poses with Dr. William Kessler at Kessler Family Wellness. (Facebook)

While there’s no timetable yet on Frank “The Crank” Camacho’s return to the octagon cage, the Marianas mixed martial arts fighter is finally out of the hospital and is now rehabilitating from injuries he sustained after figuring in a multi-vehicle accident last June 8, California time.

“Frank is in very good spirits and is now just recovering and healing. He already started therapy,” said Trench Tech Gym founder and Camacho’s cornerman, Cuki Alvarez, in a social media message to the Saipan Tribune.

Camacho currently is undergoing his therapy and rehabilitation sessions at Kessler Family Wellness in Tustin, California.

“Thanks Dr. William Kessler at Kessler Family Wellness for the help. Recovery and rehab currently undergoing well,” said Camacho in a post in his social media account.

Alvarez, who was also in the vehicle with Camacho when the accident happened, said Camacho is on his way back to recovery and just needs time and rehabilitation to return to his old self.

“We are OK and we’re back at his friend’s apartment resting up. Unfortunately due to the accident, Frank was forced to pull out of his fight in this UFC card…”

Camacho has since been rejoined by his wife Sarah and their youngest daughter in California. As for Alvarez, he said they are now making arrangements to fly him back home to the CNMI.

“I’m totally fine, escaped unscathed. Old man strength!” he told Saipan Tribune.

Last June 8 or a couple of days before his fight in UFC 263, Alvarez and Camacho were returning from Redondo Beach in Los Angeles en route back to Irvine when a large SUV side-swiped them on the 405 Freeway’s carpool lane while they were traveling around 75 mph.

“Everything happened so fast. The SUV was on the farthest left lane and I guess somehow lost control and slammed into the retaining wall on his left then ricochet right into our car on Frank’s side (driver) causing us to lose control and drift toward our right onto the other lanes. We drifted and swerved and almost got totally out of control but managed to save it. All the while as we were drifting, the SUV that hit us, flipped over our hood and crashed taking out several other cars that were trailing on the other four lanes. It was so crazy and all of the cars ended up piling up along the far right shoulder smashing against the other retaining wall on that side,” recalled Alvarez.

Camacho and Alvarez were transported to Los Alamitos Medical Center via ambulance and the two were there for five hours. “Frank needed x-rays and a CT scan and eventually was ordered to get an MRI to make sure because the doctors eventually found two ruptured discs in his neck and spine,” said Alvarez.

For the record, Camacho had four raptured discs—C4 C6, C7, and T1—that resulted from the severe whiplash caused by the side impact on the June 8 car accident.

Due to the injuries he sustained in the accident, Camacho was forced to withdraw from that weekend’s UFC 263 showdown against Matt Frevola. He was eventually replaced by Terrence McKinney in the UFC 263 fight-card.