Cigano ‘Could Have Died’ From Gnarly Leg Infection

David Berding-USA TODAY Sports

Junior dos Santos did that macho thing most guys do when they get sick or hurt and tried to gut it out until things got better. Then the former UFC heavyweight champion realized his worsening leg infection was not going to heal on its own and opted for medical treatment.

The decision may have saved his life.

“It was extremely serious,” dos Santos told MMA Fighting. “I spent a week in the hospital thinking that I would get cleared and fight (Volkov), but the doctor came to me and said, ‘You don’t understand how serious this is.’ He said I was lucky to be a healthy man and that I went to the hospital soon enough, otherwise I could have gone straight to ICU. I could have lost my leg or even died.”

Instead, he lost his UFC Moscow fight against Alexander Volkov.

All patched up and ready to go, Dos Santos (21-6) looks to get back into the win column when he collides with No. 3-ranked contender Curtis Blaydes in the UFC Raleigh heavyweight main event later this month on ESPN+ (more on that here).