In this article we will tell the truly remarkable and awe-inspiring stories of 10 MMA stars who lived to fight another day after surviving life-threatening illnesses against-the-odds, from cancer and brain aneurysm’s through to deadly blood disorders and bacterial infections.
Tatiana Suarez
As the No.1 ranked U.S. freestyle wrestler in her weight-class, Tatiana Suarez seemed destined for big things as she trained for the 2012 Olympics, but then disaster struck when she suffered a neck injury that forced her out of the Games.
Worse still, hospital scans also discovered that she had thyroid cancer, resulting in her thyroid and several nymph lodes around her neck being surgically removed, in addition to radiation therapy.
It was a lot to take on-board, but Suarez counted her blessings that the cancer hadn’t spread to her lungs and after nursing herself back to full health her competitive urge led her to start training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and then MMA.
Seh took to the sport easily and after just two amateur fights and three professional ones in a little over a year, she managed to land a spot on The Ultimate Fighter Season 23 and would go on to win the show.
Since then the now 28-year-old Suarez has gone on to win four more fights, extending her career record to a perfect 8-0 and she’s currently ranked No.3 in the world at strawweight.
