Ex UFC champ Cody Garbrandt hospitalised, out of UFC Columbus
It’s a hectic time for athletes and sports organisations. The outbreak of the Corona virus has caused a huge change to many public events, either being moved up, or cancelled. UFC Brasilia will go ahead without an audience or media, and other UFC shows are also affected. Amidst these global issues, the UFC Columbus card has taken another hit. Former UFC bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt was slated to face Raphael Assuncao in the co-main event of UFC Columbus, March 28th. Now, not only will the event take place behind closed doors at the UFC Apex facility, but Garbrandt has been forced out of the fight with Assuncao.
Garbrandt has experienced health issues for circa a month, and has now been hospitalised for flu-like symptoms and kidney issues.
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“I honestly don’t know what it is,” Cody Garbrandt said in a statement to ESPN. “A month ago, I had cellulitis in my shin. I went to the hospital and got that cleared with antibiotics. I got back into training, but then last Friday, the lymph nodes in my groin were inflamed and I didn’t feel well. I thought it was just due to rough training.
“On Saturday, I had flu-like symptoms. The lymph nodes were so inflamed I couldn’t walk. I took an Uber to the hospital and did a bunch of tests on my blood, kidneys, CAT scan. The doctor sent me home and 20 minutes later I felt even worse and started pissing blood.”
The co-main event slot was a welcome opportunity for Garbrandt, who is currently on a tough skid. The former champion has lost three straight bouts via KO, two of them in the first round. There has been speculation online that Garbrandt may very well have the Corona virus, though there is no hard evidence to substantiate such hearsay.
The event features heavyweight knockout artists Francis Ngannou and Jairzinho Rozenstruik. The winner of that bout may very well position himself as the next heavyweight title contender.
