Brazilian fighter hopes for cage return after gas station melee
“I’m fine,” said Kaue Mena seven months after his attack. “Everything is fine. I’m doing physical therapy, but I can’t wait to fight again. I’m waiting for it.”
Last July former Bellator middleweight title challenger MaiquelFalcao and undefeated fighter Kaue Mena were involved in a brawl outside a gas station in Brazil that left Mena in critical condition. The melee began when Falcao slapped a woman in the gas station; her companions then swarmed on the pair, beating Mena – who had nothing to do with it – into a coma.
Mena underwent several surgeries, and was released from the hospital in December. Mena lost 70% of his vision in one eye. He also had part of his skull reattached in November.
Now Guilherme Cruz is reporting for MMAFighting that Mena’s vision has recovered, and he hopes he will fight again.
“I’m fine,” said Mena. “Everything is fine. I’m doing physical therapy, but I can’t wait to fight again. I’m waiting for it.”
“This (decision to return to the cage or not) is up to me, but I believe they will support me.”
Mena’s younger brother reported on his process.
“There’s no timetable because it’s a long recovery,” said Kaua Mena. “My brother does physical therapy once a day, seven days a week. If he gets better in a few months, the doctor will see if he can fight again. I believe that my brother will want to fight again.
“The doctor said he’ll have a normal life from now on, but we’re not sure yet if he’ll be able to come back to MMA. His memory is getting better every day. The only thing he needs now is to be able to walk perfectly again. We’re positive that he’ll be able to do that really soon.”
The four assailants have been charged with attempted murder.