UFC veteran and multiple-time IBJJF world champion Rodolfo Vieira has just been taken in to undergo rigorous medical testing, the results of which may result in the end of his MMA career. The tests will be conducted on the fighter’s brain and will confirm if he’s actually fit to fight in the sport, or whether he will no longer be medically cleared to compete. If this sounds familiar, it’s because fellow BJJ legend Rafael Lovato Jr actually underwent a similar medical process to Rodolfo Vieira in recent years where he was ruled out of MMA competition at the height of his career due to a rare brain condition.
Vieira has not quite reached the same heights as Lovato Jr did during his MMA career, but Vieira has also been plying his trade in a much more competitive organization. Vieira finished all of his first five professional MMA fights before he got the call to the UFC and he continued that streak in his first two fights for the promotion as well. It was then that he stumbled against Anthony Hernandez and lost by submission after his cardio failed him, although that was an issue that he worked hard to fix quickly. He has since bounced back by submitting Dustin Stoltzfus after taking on board Lyoto Machida’s striking coach in order to develop his game further.
Rodolfo Vieira announced the news of the medical testing he was having to undergo in a post to his official Instagram account, with the following message (translated from Portuguese):
“After months of waiting I just had the cerebral angiography I needed, everything went well. Now I’m here in the room waiting for the doctor to come and tell me what I really have and if I’m going to be able to continue fighting MMA.”
“Without a doubt today is the hardest day of my life. [But] whatever it is, I trust in my God and I know that He will do the best for my life as He always did!”
