Bold statement: Even a spectacular UFC showdown can end with serious caution, as three fighters were rushed to a local hospital for precautionary scans after UFC 323. And this is the part most people miss—the aftermath matters just as much as the fight itself.
Three fighters were transported to a New York hospital for precautionary evaluation following violent bouts at UFC 323, held Saturday night at the T-Mobile Arena. Officials confirmed to MMAmania.com that the medical checks were precautionary, not emergency conclusions.
The trio included main event participant Merab Dvalishvili, former two-division champion Henry Cejudo, and No. 5-ranked Maycee Barber. Dvalishvili (21-5) was taken in for a CT scan of the head and face after losing a dramatic five-round title fight to Petr Yan. That defeat snapped Dvalishvili’s impressive 14-fight win streak, a run that featured three title defenses and victories over four former champions.
Cejudo (16-6) also underwent a precautionary CT scan after absorbing heavy blows in his unanimous decision defeat to rising contender Payton Talbott. UFC CEO Dana White later posted a photo of Cejudo from the aftermath, noting the rough nature of the contest. Cejudo, who had already retired once, left the sport on a four-fight skid and without a win since his 2020 retirement, but his career remains widely regarded as one of the sport’s all-time greats. He is widely considered a first-ballot Hall of Fame candidate.
Barber (15-2) likewise received a precautionary CT scan after her unanimous decision victory over Karine Silva. Barber has endured a challenging year, including a scary pneumonia battle and a dramatic set of pre-fight health hurdles, such as a late pullout from a May main event due to weight and a reported seizure that forced hospitalization just before another bout.
Despite the rough night for some, Barber is on a seven-fight winning streak, tying Natalia Silva for the longest such streak in Flyweight history.
At present, the results of the scans have not been disclosed, but all three fighters have been released from the hospital. It is common for UFC to transport athletes for precautionary reasons, especially after hard three-round bouts or especially violent exchanges.
For ongoing health updates on the fighters and more UFC 323 coverage, stay connected with MMAmania.com. Click here for additional UFC 323 results, coverage, and highlights.
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