The condition of Bellator fighter Daiane Silva is improving as her stay in a London hospital crosses one month, much of which included being in a coma.
Silva (3-0) was scheduled to compete against Eman Almudhaf in a women’s featherweight bout at Bellator Champions Series: London on Sept. 14. During the final stages of a weight cut with expectations of hitting the 146-pound non-title divisional limit, Silva began to show signs of severe physical stress due to dehydration and fainted, a person with knowledge of the situation told MMA Junkie under the condition of anonymity.
The 29-year-old Brazilian subsequently was hospitalized and was induced into a coma, where she remained for several weeks. But Silva has displayed increasing levels of consciousness throughout this week as she remains in the hospital.
After being informed of MMA Junkie’s reporting, Silva’s manager, Alex Davis of Davis MMA Management, who was not present on-site at the event in England when the incident occurred, issued a statement updating his client’s condition and praised Bellator/PFL for its support throughout the recovery process.
“Daiane had an accident as she made weight for her debut in Bellator in London,” Davis told MMA Junkie. “She was promptly seen by a doctor and was transported to a hospital in very delicate condition. She was admitted and has been kept in Intensive Care Unit since. She has been under carful medical treatment, and has been steadily improving.
“Bellator, myself, her team, her doctor and the medical team at the hospital having been working closely together to support her and help her get well. Please join us in our support and well wishes for her and her family as she recovers from a very difficult situation. I would also like to commend Bellator’s support through all of this.”
According to Davis, Bellator/PFL is paying Silva’s entire fight purse and flew a family member from Brazil to be by her side in person.
Newly crowned PFL women’s featherweight superfight champion Cris Cyborg, who is from the same home state as Silva in Parana, Brazil, offered support following her title win vs. Larissa Pacheco at PFL: Battle of the Giants on Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
“It’s really sad,” Cyborg said. “She had a tough cut. … It’s sad. We just pray for her and hope she recovers fast. I know she’s in a bad situation, but we pray for her and support for her so she can come back soon.”
Bellator/PFL officials did not immediately return MMA Junkie’s request for comment on the situation and why it has not been addressed publicly by the organization.
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Bellator fighter Daiane Silva improving after bad weight cut led to hospitalization, coma