Dustin Poirier and 4 other UFC fighters who dealt with serious illnesses

Often-times, what plagues a UFC fighter is an injury. It is not uncommon for upcoming bouts to be canceled due to one of the fighters suffering an injury. The injury either prevents the fighter from competing effectively or is not cleared by the athletic commission despite the fighter's willingness to compete.

However, this isn't always the case. Sometimes, UFC fighters deal with illnesses instead of injuries. These incidents get less coverage than an injury, but they have led to fighters withdrawing from bouts and even others contemplating retirement. Due to the recent global pandemic, many fighters have been plagued by illness.

This led to some who recovered from sickness to underperform in recent fights due to aftereffects. However, even prior to the emergence COVID-19, fighters struggled. This list details five different moments when UFC fighters dealt with a serious illness.

#5. Robert Whittaker, former UFC middleweight champion

In 2018, Robert Whittaker was the newly promoted middleweight champion after capturing the interim title. His first title defense was scheduled for UFC 221 where he would have fought former divisional titleholder Luke Rockhold. Unfortunately, 'The Reaper' was forced to withdraw from the bout.

White: Robert Whittaker in “serious condition” with staph infection | themaclife.com/featured-posts… https://t.co/ZUJuRZ3A9D

A mistreated staph infection spread to his stomach and began eating away at his organs. Not only did the illness force him to withdraw from his scheduled title defense, but it also left the Australian in serious condition. Fortunately, he ultimately prevailed and returned to defeat Yoel Romero months afterward.

As Whittaker recovered, issues that kept him from being active kept arising. Whether those issues were injuries or other inconveniences.

#4. Dustin Poirier, former UFC interim lightweight champion

Dustin Poirier recently made headlines for renewing his feud with Conor McGregor. Bad blood between the two men resurfaced after 'The Diamond' shared a picture of a severe staph infection on his foot. The image, which the former interim champion posted on social media, earned his rival's mockery.

Dustin Poirier's wife shares Dustin's Staph Infection! It's worse 😱 #ufc https://t.co/rGNnP7lxaq

Poirier responded by threatening McGregor with another beating inside the octagon. After initially responding positively to antibiotic treatment, 'The Diamond' found his early release from the hospital cut short. Surgery was required to open and drain an abscess that had formed.

The surgery was successful and the former interim champion is now hoping for a return to form inside the octagon.

#3. Khamzat Chimaev, UFC welterweight/middleweight

The undefeated Chechen's initial UFC run almost came to a halt in 2021. In the year prior, 'Borz' contracted COVID-19. It led to the development of severe symptoms and the cancelation of a scheduled bout against Leon Edwards. Although he attempted to make a quick return to the octagon, his recovery was slow.

Khamzat Chimaev may have just retired from MMA after a long and brutal battle with Covid-19.

Source, Khamzat Chimaev on Instagram: instagram.com/p/CL5cum2lU4R/… https://t.co/v32YXvHeWx

Serious respiratory issues arose and Khamzat Chimaev began coughing up blood, which he feared was cancer-related. It was such a harrowing time that 'Borz' shocked the MMA world by announcing his retirement in early 2021. Fortunately, the undefeated phenom walked back on his retirement and returned in late 2021.

He has since resumed his unbeaten MMA run by defeating Li Jingliang, Gilbert Burns, and Kevin Holland.

#2. Brock Lesnar, former UFC heavyweight champion

While Brock Lesnar is no longer an active fighter, he remains the biggest PPV attraction in the history of the heavyweight division. He will forever remain in the halls of MMA legend for headlining UFC 100, which was the most successful PPV in UFC history until the rise of Conor McGregor.

He captured the heavyweight title and embarked on a title defense run. However, a serious bout with diverticulitis derailed a scheduled fight with Shane Carwin. The illness was later found to have persisted for over a year before its official diagnosis based on the damage it caused Lesnar's abdomen.

May12.2011

Brock Lesnar is forced to withdraw from his Fight with JDS

after being struck by Diverticulitis again http://t.co/OQezYvhnkm

Fecal matter had leaked into his stomach through an intestinal puncture. While he had surgery to treat the illness, Lesnar was never the same. While his return against Carwin was successful, his next two bouts were not. 'The Beast' was TKO'd by Cain Velasquez in the first round, losing his 265 lbs title.

His next foe was scheduled to be Junior dos Santos, but due to the reemergence of his diverticulitis, 'The Beast' was forced to undergo surgery again. He eventually returned against Alistair Overeem but lost the bout and retired from MMA. When he returned years later for a one-off fight with Mark Hunt, he re-retired afterward.

#1. Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson, former UFC light heavyweight

The late great Anthony 'Rumble' Johnson was a force of nature in the promotion's light heavyweight division. He was a vicious knockout artist matched by very few. His nuclear punching power instilled so much fear in his foes that Ryan Bader attempted an ill-timed takedown to avoid striking with him.

However, after twice failing to capture UFC gold, 'Rumble' retired from MMA to pursue other ventures. He eventually returned to the cage, but signed with Bellator instead, winning his bout with a second-round KO. Some time after his win, images of 'Rumble' circulated online in which he looked thinner than usual.

He was feared as a fighter, but absolutely beloved as a person. ♥️

The MMA & sports community remembers Anthony “Rumble” Johnson 🕊 https://t.co/KgdSVrBBpq

Soon, reports of Johnson dealing with a serious illness emerged. No other details emerged until his death was announced last month. The two-time title challenger struggled with a hematologic disorder and a group of blood cancers.

After the announcement, the MMA world mourned the loss of one of the sport's most beloved and exciting fighters.