Josiah Harrell has received a second UFC shot after his scheduled debut collapsed three years in the past in stunning circumstances.
After profitable his first seven skilled MMA bouts, the American was booked to face soon-to-be UFC champion Jack Della Maddalena in July 2023.
2
However, a pre-fight medical check found he had Moyamoya disease — a rare dysfunction brought on by blocked arteries in the brain.
Harrell’s supervisor Maurice Blanco defined how his fighter by no means had a head scan earlier than signing with the UFC, one thing the promotion’s CEO Dana White labelled as ‘insane.’
Nonetheless, Harrell underwent a posh brain surgical procedure in 2024, later telling MMA Junkie how medical doctors drilled a gap by his cranium to string a vein from outdoors of it to make his blood movement naturally once more.
Over a 12 months after his abrupt well being scare, Harrell made a comeback to combating and scored a second-round stoppage on his return.
It wasn’t lengthy earlier than the 27-year-old received the Ohio Combat League welterweight strap, defeating Kegan Gennrich through unanimous choice.
Harrell then made his second look underneath the Legacy Fighting Alliance banner and scored his eleventh consecutive win as a professional in his final battle in January.
Now, ‘The Muscle Hamster’ is making ready for the most important battle of his life in what has been a exceptional turnaround to compete on the grandest stage of all of them.
Josiah Harrell able to placed on a present at UFC Houston
“Long time coming,” the 27-year-old wrote on his Instagram after receiving the excellent news that he can be dealing with Jacobe Smith at UFC Houston this weekend.
Smith was initially scheduled to battle Seok Hyun Ko on the Texas card, however the latter pulled out final week with an harm.
“The amount of support I’ve gotten is insane,” Harrell added.
“There’s nothing on this earth I would rather do than bleed for you guys.
“God is sweet, glory to him. If you’re feeling unsure or unworthy, please enable Jesus into your coronary heart.
“He changed my life and he could change yours. I love you guys, be ready for a show.
“Over 700,000 folks have seen my profile this month. Don’t be shocked after they grow to be followers. Ohio versus the world.”
Harrell faces Smith on the main card of UFC Houston, which is headlined by a middleweight title eliminator between Sean Strickland and Anthony Hernandez.
Serghei Spivac faces Ante Delija in a top-ranked heavyweight bout on the prime of the invoice, whereas Geoff Neal, Dan Ige and Michel Pereira all characteristic on the cardboard.
2
For all of the upcoming fights and outcomes this 12 months, try talkSPORT.com’s full UFC schedule.
