Stefan Struve’s Heart Condition Improves; Training Up Next
UFC heavyweight Stefan Struve got some bad news this summer when he learned that he was dealing with an enlarged heart that potentially threatened his fighting career. The seven-foot-tall ‘Skyscraper’ never gave up though, and he recently tweeted that he is improving by leaps and bounds:
So the news is that my heart has decreased in size and because of that the aortic valve leakage has gone from medium severe to minimal!
— Stefan Struve (@StefanStruve) October 9, 2013
training with medication and monitoring that “@DamonMartin: @StefanStruve Awesome news brother. Happy for you. So what’s the next step?”
— Stefan Struve (@StefanStruve) October 9, 2013
That’s great news for Struve, who hasn’t fought since being knocked out by Mark Hunt at UFC on Fuel TV 8. Struve’s jaw was broken in the fight, and several called for Struve to retire due to his mounting knockout losses. Still, he sits with a rather impressive 9-3 mark in the UFC and could get much better if only his injuries would subside.
But the heart issue was an entirely different challenge in and of itself, one that Struve is apparently beating with a quickness. He has been cleared to resume training and will most likely do so with a new appreciation for the fight game. Struve has flashes of brilliance in the past, namely in his recent knockout win over Stipe Miocic, but has also displayed a very suspect chin against the heavy-hitters of the UFC 265-pound division.
Here’s to hoping Struve’s recovery continues to succeed at a rapid pace, because he always brings exciting fights to the Octagon. He deserves a chance to further test himself in the Octagon, and it’s promising to hear his heart condition is better. Who would be a good opponent for him to face upon his return to the cage?
