The controversial ‘Queen’ of WMMA is currently fighting for her life after complications from a nerve block procedure she underwent to keep training for a fight.
Strawweight fighter Angela Magana is currently battling for her life after slipping into a coma following a surgical procedure on her back.
Magana, currently based in Puerto Rico, entered University Hospital on Monday to have a nerve block procedure done on her back to ease pain caused by a herniated disc. Afterwards she displayed signs of cauda equina syndrome, where nerves in the lower cauda equina region of the back are damaged. Emergency surgery was performed on Tuesday, but Magana has still not regained consciousness since that procedure was completed.
Magana’s coach Gabriel Lamastus has been updating people on social media regarding the situation. Here’s the relevant tweets, starting with a worried Magana announcing she’s about to undergo surgery.
This is hard to watch but we didnt know this is where she would be.
Good vibes and healing energy to our warrior! You will wake up!!!!
Team La Perla pic.twitter.com/aWvu1ZQuIu— Angela Magana (@AngelaMagana1) April 17, 2019
What happened to Angela, she herniated a disc while training for fight, she went for a nerve block to continue training. Nerve block caused a rare nuerological disorder, cauda equina, rushed to emergency nuero surgery and hasnt woken since surgery this AM curently in a coma.
— Angela Magana (@AngelaMagana1) April 17, 2019
Angela still unresponsive I will be here in the icu at hospital as nuero team works on this. Remeber lifs is so short and can change in a blink of an eye!
We Love You Magaña
Team La perla— Angela Magana (@AngelaMagana1) April 17, 2019
“She’s in a coma, and we’re waiting to hear some positive news,” Lamastus told MMA Junkie. “The surgery went fine. The problem was anesthesia. It’s very rare that patients react bad to anesthesia, but it does happen, and I guess this is one of those rare cases. But I’m being positive. She’ll be fine, and she’ll wake up. She’s a fighter. I’m just staying positive.”
Magana was a lightning rod for controversy throughout her three year run with the UFC. After becoming something of a villain on The Ultimate Fighter 20, Magana embraced her heel role and leaned into it hard on social media, earning her the ire of a lot of fans.
Even fighters were not happy with her antics. Former featherweight champ Cris Cyborg famously punched her during a UFC Fighter Summit.
All of that seems very small and unimportant now compared to what’s happening, and we can only hope Magana wakes up soon and recovers fully.