MMA News Forums » MMA Forums » General MMA Forum

[Cat--Smasher]

Another fighter paralysed from in guillotine takedown

Now a student at Urijah Faber's Ultimate Fitness is paralyzed, from the identical situation, as reported by Sacramento's News 10.

A mixed martial arts fighter is trying to get back on his feet after he suffered a critical injury during training at Ultimate Fitness.

Devin Johnson, 22, was sparring at the facility, located on the 1700 block of I Street on May 14 when he fell while in a headlock.

When Devin arrived at UC Davis Medical Center he was paralyzed. The impact from the fall dislocated Devin's spine.

"I was in shock at first. It wasn't really sinking in. It didn't really sink in -- and hasn't really sunk in yet either," said Johnson's girlfriend Tyler Miller, who quit her job to support him through this tragedy."It's sad, but he keeps me going. He's so strong, he just is a fighter. He keeps me going. If he can be this strong I can be as strong as he is," said Miller.

"What Mr. Johnson, unfortunately, had was injury between his fourth and fifth spine in his neck," said Dr. Kee Kim, Chief of Spinal Neurosurgery at UC Davis Medical Center.

Johnson's spine slipped and caused damage to the spinal cord, causing what's called facet fracture-dislocation. Kim used a metal implant to stabilize Johnson's spine. It was his first time treating a patient who suffered a spinal cord injury from MMA.

Initially, doctors told the family of Johnson it would take a miracle for him to recover. His chances were less than five percent.

Johnson is now awake and speaking from his hospital bed. He uses a ventilator to breathe and has feeling in his right arm.

"I was surprised that he has improved to that degree in such a short time, because,what I would have expected, what I would have predicted, was that there would not be improvement at all during that time period," said Kim.

"It's a long road ahead, especially for a young person who is healthy and vibrant and active."

Johnson has always dreamed of being in the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He now wants to get out of bed and back to the gym.

"Hopefully we'll see him walking soon. That's our goal, that's his goal. He told me he's going to stay strong, he's never going to give up. It's going to be a long recovery but he'll never give up. I know he won't," said Miller.

In a phone conversation, Urijah Faber said he was not at the gym during Johnson's accident, but was aware of what happened. Faber shared his concern and support for the MMA fighter's recovery.

Johnson was scheduled to make his professional debut in September.

Another fighter paralysed from in guillotine takedown - Mixed Martial Arts News

[disposableassassin]

What is a "guillotine takedown?"

[TN94z]

You take the guy down while he has you in a guillotine..

[Leucoethiops]

Which is generally a poor way to defend the standing guillotine, is it not?
Don't you usually fall into a closed full guard when you do that, and have very little chance of getting to side control?

[IceCold48]

was he the guy doing the takedown or getting taken down? also if he is paralyzed why does it say hes working on getting back in the gym?

[disposableassassin]

Originally Posted by TN94z

You take the guy down while he has you in a guillotine..

Oh ok gotcha. Didn't know there was a specific name for that. Thanks for the info.

[marko]

Originally Posted by IceCold48

was he the guy doing the takedown or getting taken down? also if he is paralyzed why does it say hes working on getting back in the gym?

He was in a standing guillotine and attempted a takedown which resulted in him spiking himself. It says he's working on getting back in the gym because he is making great progress in rehab and is being optimistic.

[TN94z]

Originally Posted by Leucoethiops

Which is generally a poor way to defend the standing guillotine, is it not?
Don't you usually fall into a closed full guard when you do that, and have very little chance of getting to side control?

I guess it would depend on how much you can control the guy during the take down. If you establish the side control before the take down and prevent your opponent from pulling guard, then you end up in side control.

Originally Posted by disposableassassin

Oh ok gotcha. Didn't know there was a specific name for that. Thanks for the info.

That's just my take on it....I don't know that the name is really a "name" for the move or not.

[mmawolverine]

sounds like the kid got DDT'd jake the snake style, ive been afraid of this happening to someone who gets spiked from a stand rear naked, i supposed a guillotined takedown attempt would do the same, sadly this is par for the course, injuries like this will crop up as the sport gets bigger, guys need to have the mentality that when they are sparring they are responsible for protecting eachother from injury, they nned to know when not to try certain moves. i hope this kid walks again but it is a long shot

[Sakara=Excitement]

Originally Posted by IceCold48

was he the guy doing the takedown or getting taken down? also if he is paralyzed why does it say hes working on getting back in the gym?

Come on man, really? Every person who's in a horrific accident like this try and stay optimistic so they can return to their old life and what they were doing before hand. Its basically saying I won't give up and ill do everything within my power to walk again.