Ex-UFC champion potentially suffering from CTE and traumatic brain injury after suffering "many concussions" in the cage
More developments in the UFC antitrust lawsuit have seen a recent wave of alarming health updates from the promotion's former fighters. Among them is Fabricio Werdum, who enjoyed a brief reign as the heavyweight champion after upsetting the division's then-king, Cain Velasquez, at UFC 188.
According to screenshot statements provided by seasoned MMA journalist John S. Nash, who has been an exceptional source on the aforementioned lawsuit, especially regarding the accounts of plaintiffs, Werdum has experienced a range of horrifying symptoms relating to declining brain health and CTE.
"While fighting for the UFC, I suffered many concussions. I fear that during my career I have suffered traumatic brain injury (TBI) and am noticing symptoms common with TBI and CTE including irritability, anger, anxiety, insomnia and memory loss. I have many lesions and scarring in my brain, and I have a cyst that is located centrally within my brain making surgery thus far impossible."
Werdum isn't the only former titleholder to outline the degradation of his neurological health. Shane Carwin, who once held the promotion's interim heavyweight title, issued a similar statement, which Nash also shared on X/Twitter, describing his difficulties in securing an everyday office job due to his injuries.
This is despite the fact that Carwin holds an engineering degree. As Nash reports, 51 more declarations have been filed, totaling 107 in support of the proposed $375 million Le v. Zuffa settlement. It marks one of several developments in what has been a lengthy legal battle for the promotion.
Fabricio Werdum isn't the only Brazilian UFC legend to share concerning health updates
Wanderlei Silva, one of the most popular MMA fighters of the mid-2000s, is also a concerned party in the lawsuit. His statement on the matter was shared by John S. Nash on X/Twitter, with the UFC Hall of Famer making revelations about his brain health similar to Fabricio Werdum's.
"While fighting for the UFC, I suffered many injuries, including concussions. I fear that during my career I have suffered traumatic brain injury (TBI) and am noticing symptoms common with TBI and CTE, including depression, mood swings, and irritability. To date, no treatment for CTE has been found. I suffer from sleep apnea and have difficulty sleeping and breathing."
Silva has highlighted the settlement as one of the only potentially positive outcomes of the entire scenario.