Leslie Smith has tumor removed from her stomach – NSFA

UFC women’s bantamweight Leslie Smith recently highlighted one of the shortcomings of being a contracted UFC fighter. She declared on AXS TV’s Inside MMA that she had a benign tumor on her stomach, she wanted to remove it, but as she lacks health insurance, she couldn’t afford it.

The UFC provides fighters on the roster with insurance for fight-related medical issues, but it is not full health insurance. If you are in training and tear an ACL, you are good. If you have a benign tumor you want removed, not so much.

However, upon hearing the news, the UFC reacted swiftly, flying Smith to Las Vegas late last week to see an MD and have the tumor removed.

It’s gone, said Smith to Marc Raimondi for MMA Fighting. I’m thrilled about it. I’m debating whether or not to show the video. There’s a good chance I’m gonna show the video.

The nature of social networks and the ubiquity of video cameras is such that things that would not normally be shown are shown. If a crazy lady wanders into your house and poops on your floor, it makes it onto video and goes public.

So of course she showed the video!

Smith shared the exclusive video of the operation with Inside MMA. The episode was hosted by combat sports personality Mauro Ranallo and pioneering former UFC heavyweight champion Josh Barnett.

Smith was awake during the excision, and narrated.

“Holy cow look at that thing that’s gross,” she noted, accurately. “That looks like that lives in the ocean.”

Warning: This is not for the squeamish. Further warning, this is not for the not squeamish, either.

You were warned.