Matt Grice recovering, not ruling out UFC return
“I was scared because I woke up and I didn’t remember anything – being married, kids. I just remember breaking down crying whenever they explained to me.”
On September 8, Oklahoma City police officer and UFC featherweight Matt Grice was off duty idling at a red light when he was hit from behind by a distracted driver going 65 MPH. The 32-year-old underwent brain surgery that night at Oklahoma University Presbyterian Hospital. The surgery included the removal of part of his skull to relieve pressure.
A few weeks later Grice began displaying limb movement and responding to verbal cues. After being hospitalized for nearly two months, Grice returned home.
Grice is a highly respected both for his profession and for his exciting fighting style. UFC president Dana White said following Grice’s latest fight – a Fight of the Night winning split decision loss to Dennis Bermudez at UFC 157 in Feb – that the way to not get cut in the UFC is to fight like Grice.
Grice brought that warrior spirit to his recovery, and has been called the miracle patient by his doctors.
Before and after images from the reattachment of his skull show the dramatic improvement.
Grice’s sense of humor, too, is intact.
“Not sure if I was in a @ufc fight Friday or had another brain surgery lol,” tweeted Grice earlier this month. “My eyes can’t tell.”
Now Grive has improved even further. A local news piece lets the MMA community know just how well Grice is going.
Grice also relates how terrifying the ordeal was.
“I don’t remember the crash at all,” said Grice as transcribed by BE. “I was scared because I woke up and I didn’t remember anything – being married, kids. I just remember breaking down crying whenever they explained to me.”
“I just started bawling right there on the table I was laying on because it just scared me to death. Because how something could take your memory away like that just blew my mind.”
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While Grice’s focus remains on his recovery, the fighter reports that his doctors have not ruled out a return to the cage.