Derrick Lewis’ latest victory over Ilir Latifi on Saturday night at UFC 247 has been overshadowed by the news that he’s dealing with a potentially life-threatening medical issue.
“My coach wanted me to get something checked out that came up from my medicals and stuff like that,” Lewis told Ariel Helwani on his MMA Show yesterday. “It’s been hindering my training, so we’re really supposed to be keeping it on the down low, but I’ve got to get it checked out. The UFC doctors know what it is, and the doctors here in Houston already know what it is, as well, so it’s just something that’s been going on that I still got to get addressed.
“It’s like life-or-death situation serious.”
Lewis spoke more about the issue, but wouldn’t be drawn on the specifics of it.
“It’s something that happens to a lot of athletes that it doesn’t matter if you’re healthy or not.It’s something that still can happen to you at a drop of a hat. That’s all I can say.”
He even went a sfar as to say that a doctor advised him not to fight Latifi, but he was still approved to compete in the end.
“The doctor had actually told me that he thinks I shouldn’t have taken this last fight. He said if the situation like this that he don’t think I should fight, so I got a second opinion from the UFC doctors, and they ran over everything and they were saying it shouldn’t be a problem.”
