Acceptance is often the most crucial step in moving past a traumatic moment. CES MMA lightweight Luis Felix said he had to accept the fact he might never fight again after suffering a career-threatening injury.

Felix (14-9) returns to competition tonight against Dawond Pickney (10-6) at CES MMA 42 nearly 15 months after a knee injury almost ended his career. The AXS TV-televised lightweight bout at Twin River Casino in Lincoln, RI, is one Felix was unsure would ever happen.

“The most frustrating part was not being able to be in there competing when it’s not your choice,” Felix told AXS TV ahead of tonight’s bout. “It just came to a point where I just let it go, and I said, ‘I don’t know when it’s going to get better, I don’t know when it’s going to work. I’m just going to go about living life and hopefully eating better and doing things the right way.'”

Felix’s injury woes began in January 2016 at CES MMA 32. He hurt his knee in the second round of a non-title fight with Ryan Sanders and hasn’t been able to compete since.

The recovery process was slow and tedious to the point where Felix nearly convinced himself a return to a fight condition would be impossible. He kept occupied by coaching a local amateur wrestling team, but little did he know that experience would be his gateway back to the cage.

“Going through the wrestling season and not really thinking about fighting and physically if I’m going to be able to do it again, it just kind of happened,” Felix said. “As the season was going on I would more and more get on the mat with guys. I started feeling better, I started getting stronger, then all of a sudden you’re training every day.

“Whatever injuries I had – not that it went away, but your body as an athlete you just don’t pay attention as much. I credit the wrestling. That was my base. That’s where I started, and that’s what got me back.”

Healthy enough to compete again, Felix hopes to pick up where he left off before injury derailed his career. He had won five of six fights prior to the matchup with Sanders, including a pair of victories over UFC veterans Julian Lane and Drew Fickett.

Despite possessing experience against more tested foes, Felix said he’s not getting a walk in the park against Pickney. He’s aware of the skills his opponent brings to the table and how he must be careful early, but said once he gets his groove back after the long break that he expects everything to go his way.

“He’s a tough guy who has a lot of experience,” Felix said. “I know what I’m bringing to the table. I got to mix it up, use my wrestling to set up my hands and my feet. It’s just like any other fight. As the fight goes on I start figuring guys out. Once i get my timing down and figure my range, I feel like anybody is going down.”

For more on CES MMA 42, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.