Pitbull should be back in training soon. Photo: Josh Hedges
Thiago “Pitbull” Alves was set to fight March 27 at UFC 111, where he would have faced Jon Fitch. However, a routine pre-fight resonance exam revealed a problem with an artery in the brain of the fighter, who was pulled from the bout.
The brain surgeon who operated Pitbull, Dr. Borhan Atassi, commented on the situation. An acquaintance of Marcelo Garcia, the doctor answered a request from the Alliance ace who has trained at the ATT in the past to examine Thiago. After determining the seriousness of the case, the doctor performed surgery and was pleased with the prognosis, saying the fighter will likely return to training within the next three weeks. According to the specialist, though, it is truly a serious, high-risk ailment, which could even have proven fatal during a fight.
Dr. Borhan went on to applaud the UFC for their performing such preventive exams on the athletes.