What happened to Nathaniel Wood's daughter? Fighter gets emotional during UFC 304 presser
Nathaniel Wood secured a decisive victory over Daniel Pineda at UFC 304, showcasing his striking prowess and tactical acumen. The Londoner's victory was a welcome return to form after a previous setback, and he is now poised for a high-profile matchup in his next outing.
However, the triumph was overshadowed by the emotional turmoil Wood is currently enduring. In a heartfelt post-fight press conference, the fighter opened up about the health challenges faced by his newborn daughter.
What happened to Nathaniel Woods' daughter?
Diagnosed with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH), a complex condition affecting the diaphragm, Wood's daughter has undergone surgery and faces the prospect of further heart surgery soon. The fighter expressed his overwhelming concern for his child's well-being, admitting that MMA has taken a backseat in his priorities.
Speaking to reporters in the post-fight presser, he said:
"So at first, she had a condition called CDH [Congenital diaphragmatic hernia]... Her liver, intestine, and were all up where her chest was. Her lungs did not work properly. So she was born, had to have an operation straightaway. Then all got fixed, we're back home, go for regular checkups and she has got quite a large hole in her heart now that's the issue we're dealing with..."
He continued:
"They said it's quite an easy procedure when it comes to heart operations but they have said that it's quite a big hole so it will need heart surgery. They said they will likely do it when she is three years old but she's not being on enough weight so they may do it in a few months. And now she's got a chest infection... Nothing else in life for me matters anymore… As long as she’s alright, that’s the main thing"
Check out Nathaniel Wood talking about his daughter's health:
Nathaniel Wood's ride in the UFC so far
Nathaniel Wood burst onto the UFC scene with impressive performances, securing submission wins over Johnny Eduardo and José Alberto Quiñónez. His striking prowess and grappling abilities were on full display, earning him a Performance of the Night bonus for his debut victory.
However, the path became more challenging when he faced the likes of John Dodson and Casey Kenney, suffering TKO and unanimous decision losses respectively.
Wood later decided to move up to the featherweight division. The shift seemed to rejuvenate him, as he secured consecutive victories over Charles Rosa and Charles Jourdain. Unfortunately, injuries derailed his momentum, forcing him to withdraw from a highly anticipated matchup against Lerone Murphy.
Despite the setbacks, the 30-year-old has managed to secure wins over Andre Fili and Daniel Pineda most recently.