Amir Albazi’s path to recovery, from injury to the point where he could once again step into the UFC ring, is an inspiring tale of determination. The previously unbeatable UFC flyweight competitor found himself grappling with a serious health crisis in the aftermath of UFC Edmonton, where he faced off against ex-champion Brandon Moreno. This held a significant challenge not only for Albazi’s fighting prowess but also for his newly recuperated body. The match culminated in a genuine exhibition of Moreno’s finesse, dominating the entire five rounds of the encounter.
Moreno’s prowess was unparalleled in the arena, as indicated by the judges’ assessment of the fight – 49-46 and two 50-45s, marking a clear win for the Mexican talent. Post the match, Albazi demonstrated genuine sportsmanship, an innate quality of a true martial artist, from his hospital room. ‘Brandon Moreno was the superior player in today’s fight. It was his day. However, as he rightly mentioned, victory may elude me today or tomorrow, but I will bounce back and return even stronger,’ reflected a deeply resilient Albazi.
The past one and a half years witnessed Albazi engaging not just in physical fights but also contending with two serious health conditions. Facing the danger of irregular heartbeats due to a certain heart condition might have prompted other fighters to consider bowing out early. Furthermore, he was grappling with an affliction in his neck prompting medical professionals to suggest that he retire his combat gloves. However, ‘The Prince’ is well known for his deference to medical advice.
Indeed, this defeat stands as Amir Albazi’s first reversal in the UFC. But taking into account the fact that he has managed to overcome a critical heart condition and a stubbornly troublesome neck, this decision comes across as little more than a minor setback. Having been born in Iraq and overcoming these challenges stands testament to the fact that Albazi can rise up to face even more significant problems!
The road to recovery and back to the octagon has been a challenging one for Amir Albazi. Following his narrow victory over Kai Kara-France at UFC Vegas 74, he found himself dealing with a series of intimidating medical issues. Even mere two-minute grappling rounds during training sessions found him panting for breath, a disconcerting symptom.
Albazi’s mystery ailments finally came to light after numerous medical evaluations – he was diagnosed with supraventricular tachycardia, a condition of the heart. Interestingly, this is a condition he shares with soccer legend Cristiano Ronaldo. ‘Subsequent to a few medical investigations, they determined that I have befallen supraventricular tachycardia. The one silver lining was the knowledge that Cristiano Ronaldo also lives with the same disorder. This knowledge ignited a spark of optimism within me … subsequently, a cardiac operation was carried out and I resumed training,’ Albazi recollected.
The challenges for Albazi didn’t terminate with the cardiac bugbear, however. An injury to the spinal cord added another layer of complexity to the medical obstacles he had to surmount, reflecting in a loss of mobility in his left arm. The knowledge that Ronaldo, too, had dealt with and triumphed over the same heart condition seemed to provide the mental reassurance Albazi needed to continue in his battle against the odds.