When BKFC was the flyweight champion, Christine FeriaAlmost a decade ago, he received a call seeking his willingness to participate Brain Health Study,She just said “yes” to the money.
then, I am struggling to make ends meet.So promise a few hundred extra dollars just to get it MRI and some other tests at the Cleveland Clinic They seemed like a good deal to him. What he doesn’t know is that this study will change his life personally and professionally, giving him a lot of information Part of the program beyond the estimated date complete
Onward with brain health
“At first I didn’t know what it was. They will give you a brain scan and tell you if your cognitive function is decliningIf your brain is damaged by the blows,” says Phiria MMA fighting. “The first is a two-hour scan, and then Every three years they do a two-hour scan. They tell me if my brain is degenerate, If there is accumulated brain damage. “They do various cognitive tests, balance tests, many other things to make sure I’m healthy.”
Phiria agreed He didn’t care much about his chronic health when he started fighting.But once he participated in a brain health study, The effect of blows to the head is beginning to be better understoodIt constantly reminds him that he can never fight.
If I start to decline, I will retire. Spot
“Now I don’t have to wonder if I’m hurting myself, if I’m taking too many hits or how it’s going to affect me in the future. After each MRI I have a meeting with the doctor And they explain the results to me. He explains everything to me, I believe him. “It’s good not to wonder what I’m doing to my brain every year.”.
“If I start refusing, I’ll retire. Spot. I don’t take any chances with my brain. If I break bones, if my back hurts, if my shoulder hurts, I care, but not so much my brainHe added. Feria’s commitment to study is very strong He plans to donate his brain to science After his death, there was a lot of information that doctors could only get after death, for example, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy – Also known as CTE– It can only be detected in tests performed during autopsy.
‘Hardy Effect’
“Certainly, I donate my brain to science” Feria said. “It’s not something I need to keep, or anyone else.” Feria recently faced a situation that affected her very personally. In May, Feria was The former boxing champion and Bellator veteran is set to fight Heather HardyBKFC in the battle for the title. A few days before the fight, Hardy pulled out of the fight and revealed that Brain damage probably ended his career He suffered throughout his career.
“After seeing the doctor, he confirmed it I had a lot of concussionsHardy said in a social media post. “When you have a concussion, A part of your brain dies and never recovers. Can you guess? I had a lot of brain damage in 10 years. I can’t take hits anymore or I can’t see. No running, jogging, jumping rope or hitting the head”.
After Hardy made that post, it announced his retirement. Phiria tried to contact her to put her in touch with the same doctors She worked for almost a decade. now, Feria has been outspoken about her dedication to brain health In the long run he didn’t change the way he fought because it would be detrimental to his career.
If the 41-year-old veteran ever notices that her cognitive function is compromised, will be deleted immediately. “You have to have a little bit of that ‘I don’t care’ attitude because you can’t go into fights cautiously,” Feria said. “If you are too careful, you will not perform well or you will hesitate. You can get knocked down for hesitating. If things get worse, I quit. I love it with all my heart, I love being a champion, I love competing and dominating my opponents, but Not saying my name, not being able to remember my family, nothing like that.”.
