Demian Maia’s status uncertain after recent hospitalization

Demian Maia was scheduled to fight Mike Pyle this weekend in Tulsa, OK, but a staph infection forced him to withdraw from the fight. That infection may have since gotten worse.

According to Maia’s manager Eduardo Alonso, Maia had to be hospitalized again Tuesday in São Paulo after an MRI showed the fighter’s right shoulder hasn’t improved and there’s a risk the infection might be on the bone as well. This after he was initially released from the hospital on Aug. 9 due to the staph infection, which forced him out of the Pyle fight.

Alonso said Tuesday’s MRI showed “a big inflammation on the bone,” but it’s unclear at this time whether he’s suffering from a bone bruise or osteomyelitis, which is a bone infection caused by bacteria or other germs. Earlier this month, he was diagnosed with a bone bruise and skin infection, but doctors now fear he is suffering from a bone infection.

Maia is currently undergoing intravenous antibiotic therapy again, and depending on the final diagnosis and treatment decision, could potentially be sidelined for the rest of the year, however, Maia is holding out hope that he’ll fight again sooner than later. His withdrawal from the Pyle bout marked the first time in his UFC career that he pulled out of a fight. Doctors are expected to determine the severity of the lingering injury over the next few days. In the meantime, Maia will remain in the hospital.

Maia (19-6) most recently defeated Alexander Yakovlev via unanimous decision in May.

Demian Maia was scheduled to fight Mike Pyle this weekend in Tulsa, OK, but a staph infection forced him to withdraw from the fight. That infection may have since gotten worse.

According to Maia’s manager Eduardo Alonso, Maia had to be hospitalized again Tuesday in São Paulo after an MRI showed the fighter’s right shoulder hasn’t improved and there’s a risk the infection might be on the bone as well. This after he was initially released from the hospital on Aug. 9 due to the staph infection, which forced him out of the Pyle fight.

Alonso said Tuesday’s MRI showed “a big inflammation on the bone,” but it’s unclear at this time whether he’s suffering from a bone bruise or osteomyelitis, which is a bone infection caused by bacteria or other germs. Earlier this month, he was diagnosed with a bone bruise and skin infection, but doctors now fear he is suffering from a bone infection.

Maia is currently undergoing intravenous antibiotic therapy again, and depending on the final diagnosis and treatment decision, could potentially be sidelined for the rest of the year, however, Maia is holding out hope that he’ll fight again sooner than later. His withdrawal from the Pyle bout marked the first time in his UFC career that he pulled out of a fight. Doctors are expected to determine the severity of the lingering injury over the next few days. In the meantime, Maia will remain in the hospital.

Maia (19-6) most recently defeated Alexander Yakovlev via unanimous decision in May.