Pitbull should be back in training soon. Photo: Josh Hedges

Thiago “Pitbull” Alves was set to fight March 27 at UFC 111, where he would have faced Jon Fitch. However, a routine pre-fight resonance exam revealed a problem with an artery in the brain of the fighter, who was pulled from the bout.

The brain surgeon who operated Pitbull, Dr. Borhan Atassi, commented on the situation. An acquaintance of Marcelo Garcia, the doctor answered a request from the Alliance ace who has trained at the ATT in the past to examine Thiago. After determining the seriousness of the case, the doctor performed surgery and was pleased with the prognosis, saying the fighter will likely return to training within the next three weeks. According to the specialist, though, it is truly a serious, high-risk ailment, which could even have proven fatal during a fight.

Dr. Borhan went on to applaud the UFC for their performing such preventive exams on the athletes.

Pitbull poderá treinar novamente em breve. Foto: Josh Hedges

Thiago Pitbull estava escalado para o UFC 111, no dia 27 de março, quando enfrentaria Jon Fitch. Entretanto, um exame de ressonância rotineiro antes da luta acusou um problema arterial no cérebro do lutador, que o afastou do combate.

Neurocirurgião que operou Pitbull, Dr. Borhan Atassi comentou o caso. Conhecido de Marcelo Garcia, o médico recebeu um pedido do craque da Alliance e que treinou na ATT para examinar Thiago. Após constatar a gravidade do exame, o médico realizou a cirurgia e comemorou seu sucesso. Segundo ele, o lutador provavelmente volta aos treinos em três semanas. Segundo o especialista, porém, realmente o caso era bem sério, de alto risco, que poderia até ser fatal durante uma luta.

Dr. Borhan ainda elogiou bastante o fato de o UFC realizar exames preventivos com os atletas.