American Josiah Harrell is forced out of UFC 290 with rare brain disease – as his manager says prefight MRI ‘may have saved his life’
American fighter Josiah Harrell will not be at UFC 290 after an MRI found he has a rare brain disease.
He withdrew from his debut fight just hours after the official weigh-ins Friday with a rare disease that results in blocked arteries at the base of the brain.
His manager said the diagnosis was a ‘blessing in disguise’ as he revealed the 24-year-old will need surgery.
‘Josiah Harrell’s pre-fight brain MRI may have saved his life,’ Maurice Blanco said, as reported by USA Today and MMA Junkie.
‘He was diagnosed with moyamoya syndrome, a rare disease that results in blocked arteries at the base of the brain. He will undergo a brain procedure soon.’
American fighter Josiah Harrell will not be at UFC 290 after an MRI found rare brain disease
Harrell or ‘Muscle Hamster’, as American wrestler is called, was drafted in as a replacement
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American bantamweight Vince Murdock was found to have moyamoya when he signed with the UFC four years ago.
Harrell or ‘Muscle Hamster’, as the American wrestler is called, was initially drafted in to replace Sean Brady and face Jack Della Maddalena in Las Vegas on Saturday night.
He was out to spoil the party and had momentum after winning a fight in a different organization last week.
Featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski headlines UFC 290 in Las Vegas on Saturday
He notably drove his opponent through the cage door during that bout before finishing him in the third round.
Harrell made weight on the scales on Friday morning before the MRI result was given.
Alexander Volkanovski takes center stage in the main event as the featherweight champion takes on unpredictable Mexican Yair Rodriguez.
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