PFL heavyweight fighter LeRoy Johnson remains in hospital today after having suffered a brutal knockout loss on Thursday night that left him requiring emergency surgery.
The 38-year-old Johnson was 8-2 heading into his PFL debut at the event, where he was facing former TUF 23 fighter Muhammed DeReese.
Mid-way through the opening round DeReese landed a hard knee to the face and then followed it up with another that knocked Johnson out cold, sending him crashing face first onto the canvas.
Alarmingly, Johnson remained unconscious for almost eight minutes afterwards and was then transported to hospital.
“For those wondering about LeRoy Johnson, here’s the update I have. Had emergency surgery for a vertebrae that slipped out of place and a second surgery for high blood pressure issues,” Johnson’s manager Daniel Rubenstein wrote on Twitter.
“Has feeling in arms and legs. PFL flying his fiancé to Philly to be with him. That’s all I know now.”
Video of the devastating knockout finish from the fight can be viewed on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Maldobabo/status/1035293921562296320/photo/1
