Boxing is not grappling. But combat sports is a community, one that tends to care deeply about its members especially as the rise of MMA facilities unprecedented levels of interdisciplinary training. The fight world was dismayed to learn about the death of Russian boxer Maxim Dadashev, a 28-year-old who was rushed to the hospital for emergency brain surgery following the 11th round of his fight against Subriel Matias on Friday night.
Dadashev showed signs of distress during and after his loss to Matias, including struggling to walk out of the ring on his own and vomiting on his way back to the locker room. His coach, Buddy McGirt, had thrown in the towel against Dadashev’s wishes during the eleventh round–Dadashev had previously been undefeated, with a record of 13-0. Medics at the match immediately brought the fighter to a nearby hospital, where part of his scalp was removed to relieve swelling caused by bleeding in the brain. As of July 20th the fighter was listed in critical but stable condition, but was expected to make a full recovery.
The following day manager Egis Klimas reported that his athlete may have experienced brain damage as a result of the bleeding, but stated that Dadashev was showing signs of recovery.
Dadashev was described by members of his fight camp as a dream to work with, talented and focused, and was listed by EPSN as a top ten contender back in 2017. His career including knock wins over Darleys Perez and Ricky Sismundo. The St. Petersburg native was married with one child. His wife was on the plane from Russia to the hospital when he passed.
“It just makes you realize what type of sport we’re in, man,” McGirt told ESPN, adding that he considered ending the fight in the 9th round. “He did everything right in training, no problems, no nothing. My mind is like really running crazy right now. Like, what could I have done differently? But at the end of the day, everything was fine [in training]…It just takes one punch, man.”
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