UFC is not for the faint-hearted. This sport includes getting battered up every single time you step into the octagon. Even the top fighters like Alex Pereira and Conor McGregor get badly injured during the fight or even before getting into the Octagon, because the training is just as brutal. However, they keep going and only withdraw from a fight if it is required.
It seems like there were a few fighters who were fighting in the recent UFC event with pretty serious conditions. For instance, Sean O’Malley fought with a hip injury while Alex Pereira fought and won his fight against Khalil Rountree Jr with injured ribs and weakness from viral fever. Similarly, Kayla Harrison concerned the fans, media, and even UFC head honcho Dana White before getting inside the Octagon for UFC 307.
Her health condition was addressed at the DWCS: Post-Fight Press Conference and White was concerned for her health even when he knew that combatants had to face adversities in this sport. He said, “If somebody is hurt or shouldn’t compete, they should come to us and tell us you know. The truth of the matter is it is like the NFL every Sunday, these athletes always have something going on. These are things… I mean, we were just talking a few weeks ago you asked me about Sean’s hip and after the fight night he had a broken toe and popped cartilage. I mean you gotta assume that every Saturday.”
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The women’s bantamweight contender told MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin that she was suffering from an infection “that started spreading.” She was on antibiotics before the event and even with this ailment she managed to win via unanimous decision victory over Ketlen Vieira.
“I had to go to the hospital the week before,“ Kayla Harrison declared in an interview with TMZ Sports. “I was peeing blood.“ She also admitted that she was not at her best and was disappointed with her performance even when she won. The former two-time PFL Champion dominated her opponent on the ground but failed to achieve a finish. However, there is no doubt that Harrison aka ‘Doug’ is an absolute freak of an athlete with an 18-1 record. She also has been seen as a great matchup against Amanda Nunes and Dana White was asked about the same.
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Dana White comments on Amanda Nunes and Kayla Harrison’s matchup
The UFC head honcho was inadvertently asked about this matchup. The reporters asked during the recent Contender Series presser, whether there was a chance of the Olympic Gold medallist fighting Nunes.
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However, the UFC head honcho did not have a proper answer to it and said, “I don’t know. I have no idea… There are still a lot of things that have to happen for that fight [Nunes vs Kayla Harrison] to even happen, to determine what weight class it will be at. It’s impossible.” The bout would definitely be massive but Harrison might have to take action to start the conversation regarding taking on one of the greatest fighters in women’s MMA history.
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If Nunes comes back at all, it could probably be for the title. That leaves Harrison with the task of securing the title from Julianna Pena, who called out the retired Nunes instead of Harrison, who had just competed and won at UFC 307.
What are your thoughts on a fighter’s injuries and health during events? Is it inevitable to not be at 100% during a UFC fight? Drop your comments below.
