DAMAR HAMLIN SHOWERED WITH SUPPORT FROM MMA COMMUNITY FOLLOWING TRAGIC FOOTBALL ACCIDENT
MMA fighters, analysts and fans showed a wave of support for Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin after he collapsed during a game on Monday.
Mixed martial arts and football may be extremely different sports, but they share the ever-present danger of severe, potentially life-threatening injury. It’s a reality that hits close to home for many fighters and football players. After Damar Hamlin collapsed after a play during the Buffalo Bills vs. Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football, the MMA community was quick to show its support.
“My biggest fear as a fighter is exactly what we just saw in this football game,” tweeted UFC welterweight Michael Chiesa. “My prayers go out to Damar Hamlin and his family.”
“Crazy seeing the young man Damar Hamlin having to get CPR on the field of a live NFL game,” tweeted UFC middleweight Derek Brunson. “Professional sports has it perks and negatives in which athletes go through on a daily basis that no one sees. Prayers to the young man.”
Former UFC welterweight Alan Jouban also shared his support in a post that was retweeted by Dustin Poirier. It read simply, “Prayers for Damar and his family.”
Paige VanZant shared a link to Damar Hamlin’s “The Chasing M’s Foundation Community Toy Drive” GoFundMe page, the football star’s fundraiser to provide Christmas toys to children in need.
MMA journalist and Buffalo Bills diehard Ariel Helwani tweeted “God bless you, Damar Hamlin. Can’t believe this is happening. Praying for you. Please pull through, young man.”MMA journalist and Buffalo Bills diehard Ariel Helwani tweeted “God bless you, Damar Hamlin. Can’t believe this is happening. Praying for you. Please pull through, young man.”MMA journalist and Buffalo Bills diehard Ariel Helwani tweeted “God bless you, Damar Hamlin. Can’t believe this is happening. Praying for you. Please pull through, young man.”
Noted MMA surgeon and “fight physician” Dr. David Abbasi posted a video explaining what happened to Hamlin on his Twitter. “#CommotioCordis occurred to #DamarHamlin tonight. Blow to chest in upstroke of T wave (vulnerable period)- causes loss of [heart] electrical activity. AED (shock device) saved life tonight, it restores electrical activity. Timing is crucial. W/out would have died. Great job Med Staff!”
Former UFC heavyweight turned stand-up comedian and podcaster Brendan Schaub tweeted about the incident moments after, lambasting the NFL for not immediately calling off the game. “Just reschedule the damn game. Who could play after witnessing this,” Schaub tweeted. The game was eventually postponed.
Chris Weidman tweeted “This is terrible !!! Praying Hamlin is going to be ok !”
As of the publishing of this article, Damar Hamlin remains in critical condition in the intensive care unit at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Inside Fighting wishes Hamlin a speedy recovery.
Fans who wish to contribute to Hamlin’s toy drive can do so here.