On June 16, UFC Hall of Famer Matt Hughes was in a vehicle that collided with a moving train. He was airlifted to HSHS St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, Illinois. Shortly afterward the family released a statement, via the social network of his sister Beth Hughes Ulrici, explaining that the fighter was in coma.

“He has some minor lacerations and bruising and is currently being weaned from his ventilator,” she wrote. “He is not yet awake and not responding as we would like to see but we see the fight in him.”

A little over a month later Hughes’ former coach and fellow UFC Hall of Famer Pat Miletich appeared on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Hour and reported that the fighter was out of a coma. He also explained how he believed the accident occurred. Hughes stopped on a hill at a railroad, as a coal train approached; it had no crossing signal, and the road was gravel. Coal trains are long, entailing a substantial wait, so Hughes floored it. But being uphill on gravel road the tires spun and the vehicle was struck by the train as it crossed.

Now Hughes friend Tony Zucca has blessed news.

I can’t even describe the emotions I am feeling as I write this post,” he wrote on his social network. “Less than two months ago I didn’t know if my best friend was going to make it, and tonight we made a jail break for sushi (in disguise. Ha). Talk about a rollercoaster of emotions! His progress is nothing short of a miracle. He is working so hard and fights through the frustration. He is, as he’s always been, an inspiration. I can’t wait to hit the mats with him again…and he told me today that he has “one more round” left in him! Ha. (He laughed…but definitely wasn’t joking!). Thank you for all of your prayers! Please keep them up as he still has a long road ahead of him. I am witnessing the power of them firsthand! So thankful!

So keep Matt Hughes in your thoughts and prayers, and at last, smile – he’s recovering.