RIO DE JANEIRO -- Nothing is going to stop Duda Yankovich.
Yankovich, a former WIBA light welterweight boxing champion who is signed with Invicta Fighting Championships, suffered a stroke during a training session at Team Nogueira in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 9. She was rushed to a hospital and underwent surgery.
Eight days later, Yankovich showed up at the gym.
It’s good to be back, Yankovich told MMAFighting.com on Wednesday. I was scared, but everything was done on the right time. We’re subject to this. It happens. It was good that it happened inside the gym and we had people that knew it was a stroke and got me the medical assistance I needed. I’m fine now.
You can’t foresee a stroke, it can happen to anyone. We will do more exams to find out what really happened, because a stroke is not a common thing to happen to young people. It just happened.
The Serbia-native fighter, who cut down from bantamweight to flyweight for her last MMA bout in Brazil, can’t return to sparring yet.
I’m cleared to do normal activities, but I can’t train anything with impact yet, she said. I can’t box or train muay thai, but I’m cleared to do technical training and work out. I will keep doing my normal activities. Nothing’s gonna stop me.
Every Team Nogueira fighter stopped training to talk to Yankovich as soon as she stepped inside the gym, and heavyweight legend Rodrigo Nogueira was one of them.
I called the hospitals and we rushed her to the hospital right away, Minotauro told MMAFighting.com. She underwent surgery 80 minutes after she had the stroke. The doctor said she avoided sequelae because we helped her right away.
I have to thank my coach Vander Valverde, who recognized the symptoms, and ‘Minotauro’ for helping me, Yankovich added. We have angels in the sky that protect us, and we have angels who walk among us. I was saved by my friends, and I have to thank my student Andre Elias, who was there to help me with the toughest part, financials. I can’t thank them enough.
http://www.mmafighting.com
Related Fight Posts
- 2014/07/20 -- Gleison Tibau wants to break Tito Ortiz’s UFC record by 2015
Gleison Tibau will become the lightweight with the most UFC fights Wednesday night, but that’s not the only reco... - 2014/07/20 -- Cage Fury Fighting Championships Acquires Xtreme Fight Events, Inks Deal With SNY
On Friday, officials from Cage Fury Fighting Championships announced a deal that would merge the promotion with... - 2014/07/20 -- Cathal Pendred: A Long Time Coming
He’s a good fighter and a tough fighter, but he’s not as good as me and he’s not as tough as me. I know that I’... - 2014/07/18 -- Alistair Overeem, Ben Rothwell Paired for UFC Fight Night in Connecticut
Alistair Overeem and Ben Rothwell are set to tangle when the Ultimate Fighting Championship heads to Connecticu... - 2014/07/20 -- Zou Shiming talks about his 10-round debut on Saturday on HBO2
Just 15 months and five fights removed from his professional debut, two-time Chinese Olympic gold medallist and ... - 2014/07/20 -- All Eyes on McGregor in Ireland
It’s quite a thing to see an athlete from a niche sport breakthrough into a nation’s broader cultural consciousn... - 2014/07/19 -- Weidman Proves Mettle Once More, Beats Machida
LAS VEGAS, July 5 – If anyone ever says that a championship belt doesn’t mean anything, they obviously never saw... - 2014/07/19 -- Mitchell Smith hails victory over Peter Cope at York Hall
Mitchell Smith believes his performance in defeating previously unbeaten Peter Cope for the vacant English title... - 2014/07/19 -- Kevin Casey on Second UFC Run: I’m Here to Make Statements, Not Be Nice to People
Kevin Casey has been a very busy man in the last 12 months.
He had three fights in Resurrection Fighting Allia... - 2014/07/20 -- UFN Atlantic City Prelim Fantasy Preview
When the UFC returns to Atlantic City, New Jersey on Wednesday night, there will be a slew of notables on both ... - 2014/07/20 -- Derry Mathews backs Luke Campbell to rule lightweight division
Derry Mathews has tipped Luke Campbell to become a future world champion ahead of his return to the ring.
The 2...