The Irish MMA community is coming together to rally around one of its own, in need of great medical and financial assistance.
Pro flyweight Ryan Curtis recently suffered a broken back, broken neck, and dislocated spine in training and has lost the use of his arms and legs, according to a GoFundMe account set up in his name.
“The road ahead is unknown and will involve at least 5 months of him in hospital, followed by a further period of time with a specialist spinal team,” a statement on the fundraiser page reads. “There is no exact end date to when this treatment will be complete.
“… Understandably he is distressed at present, we have limited access to see him. He is in ICU and hopefully being moved to spinal ward when conditions improve. He is still showing his positive outlook, his determination and mindset to overcome yet another challenge that life has presented.”
Curtis, 31, is a 10-fight veteran, including appearances in Bellator, Brave CF and Cage Warriors.
Curtis’s accident caught the attention of many in the small, yet tight-knit and powerful Irish MMA community with stars like former UFC champion Conor McGregor, SBG Ireland head coach John Kavanagh and top Bellator featherweight Leah McCourt spreading awareness for donations on social media.
McGregor is listed as having donated $25,000. Bellator executive Mike Kogan donated $1,500 and Dillon Danis and boxer Michael Conlan each are listed for $1,000 donations. At the time of initial publication of this story, the fundraiser was about 90 percent toward its $100,000 goal.
“Ryan will be out of work for the foreseeable future and we are trying to take any additional load or stress of Ryan’s family and daughter by creating a page to raise some funds to help towards rehabilitation, vital treatment, recovery and supporting his family,” the fundraiser page says.
Scroll below to see the messages of support for Curtis.
Conor McGregor
Sending my support and well wishes to Dublin MMA fighter Ryan Curtis after suffering life changing injury in practice. Here is a link to his go fund me , he has a young daughter and the family needs our support 🙏❤️ https://t.co/a57zcOqHkv pic.twitter.com/qTIhbekLc1
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) January 14, 2024
Coach John Kavanagh
devastated to hear the news about promising young irish fighter Ryan Curtis. if you can afford to donate to help him face the biggest fight of his life it would be greatly appreciated. https://t.co/3T2xRKHsgb
— Coach JK (@John_Kavanagh) January 14, 2024
Michael Conlan
A friend and fellow fighter Ryan Curtis has suffered serious life changing injuries while training, I’m going to auction off the fight kit from my last fight to help raise money for him. Bidding can done here on my twitter. Link to donate below https://t.co/i2doBq2rB3 pic.twitter.com/W0wCWbqGsK
— Michael Conlan (@mickconlan11) January 14, 2024
Leah McCourt
Statement re Ryan Curtis https://t.co/sGPDpWo1uS pic.twitter.com/gUokQ5HuvD
— Leah McCourt (@leahmccourtmma) January 13, 2024
My brother and best friend through everything in life. https://t.co/sGPDpWo1uS pic.twitter.com/pRDj6sdyL5
— Leah McCourt (@leahmccourtmma) January 13, 2024
The support from the MMA and Irish community has really lifted Ryan’s morales. We ask for prayer and believe in the power of prayer and that God is the god of miracles. Please keep Ryan in your prayers ❤️
— Leah McCourt (@leahmccourtmma) January 14, 2024
