UFC middleweight fighter Bruno Silva was taken to the hospital after suffering what appeared to be a DENTED SKULL during his fight against Marc-Andre Barriault.
The experienced middleweight was knocked out in the first round by the Canadian fighter during the preliminary bouts of UFC 315 in Montreal on Sunday morning.
Barriault finished Silva with a brutal series of elbows against the cage, one of which caused a visible dent in Silva`s skull.
Silva, 35, remained on the canvas for several minutes after the knockout and was immediately transported to the hospital.
Medical personnel used a stretcher to remove him from the octagon and took him for further medical evaluation.
Fortunately, Silva provided a positive update from the hospital, stating that his X-rays were “negative” and imaging scans were “normal”.
He wrote on his Instagram story in Portuguese: “Good night, just passing to let you know that I’m fine.
“I went to the hospital and had tests, everything is fine with my health.
“I received a lot of messages from people who really like me, it was fine.
“I wanted to win to give my testimony, from everything I went through and managed to stand up, but it’s worth living.
“I am a victor. This is not the moment that will end my story and my legacy.”
Barriault was initially overjoyed by his knockout win, but his mood shifted to concern for Silva`s health upon seeing him motionless on the ground.
Barriault commented in the post-fight press conference: “I still have goosebumps.
“[But then] I realised he was still on the ground after a couple of minutes.
“Then I felt like something is wrong.”
Silva faces an uncertain future with the UFC, having now lost his last five consecutive fights.
