Better to be safe than sorry …
Following UFC 323 last night (Sat., Dec. 6, 2025) inside T-Mobile Arena, company officials confirmed to MMAmania.com that three fighters were transported to a local New York hospital for precautionary reasons after their violent bouts.
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The fighters were main event loser Merab Dvalishvili, former two-division champion Henry Cejudo, and No. 5-ranked Maycee Barber.
Dvalishvili (21-5) was taken in for a precautionary CT scan of his head and face following his five-round “Fight of the Night” title fight loss to Petr Yan (watch highlights). The defeat snapped his incredible 14-fight win streak, a run that included three title defenses and victories over four former champions.
Cejudo (16-6) was also transported for a precautionary CT scan after absorbing heavy damage in his unanimous decision loss to rising contender Payton Talbott.
UFC CEO Dana White posted a photo of “Triple C” after the fight and … it was rough.
Cejudo retired for the final time after the defeat, walking away on a four-fight losing streak and without a win since his first retirement in 2020. Despite the skid — and a career defined by equal parts greatness and cringe — the former Olympic gold medalist remains one of the most accomplished combat athletes of all time and should be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
Finally, Barber (15-2) was also transported for a precautionary CT scan following her unanimous decision win over Karine Silva.
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It’s been a hellacious year for Barber. After recovering from a scary battle with pneumonia, “The Future” was scheduled to headline her first UFC event in May, only to miss weight and then be hospitalized just minutes before the fight due to a reported seizure.
Nevertheless, she is riding a seven-fight win streak and is now tied with Natalia Silva for the longest winning streak in Flyweight history.
The results of both fighters’ scans are currently unknown, though they have all since been released from the hospital.
It is normal for UFC to transport fighters to the hospital for precautionary reasons, especially if the fighters are involved in three-round battles that are full of damage or after suffering nasty knockouts.
Stick with MMAmania.com for the fighters’ health-related updates.
For more UFC 323 results, coverage, and highlights click HERE.
