Monday, May 26, 2003
Ricardo Arona Out Of Pride 26
Ricardo Arona out of PRIDE 26 By Eduardo Alonso In a surprising turn of events, Brazilian fighter Ricardo Arona has pulled out from his fight against Alistair Overeem in PRIDE 26, due to illness. Arona is coming off of an Abu Dhabi Submission Wrestling World Championship Superfight win against veteran wrestler Mark Kerr, this past May 17th, and was to make his PRIDE comeback in June, stepping into the Japanese ring for the first time since his win over Chute Boxe fighter Murilo Ninja Rua at PRIDE 23. Unfortunately Ricardo became ill with a very strong flu, diagnosed as almost the start of pneumonia, and is experiencing high fever and all sorts of head and body aches. He is forced to quit his training routine and has been advised by the doctors not to compete in the next PRIDE show. Arona’s friend Mario Sperry was victim of the same flu, which cost him a better perfomance in Abu Dhabi, and Ricardo probably got the illness from Sperry since both were in the same hotel room during the Submission Wrestling competition. According to the Abu Dhabi 2003 superfight champion’s camp, the PRIDE organization has already been informed of the fact that Arona isn’t competing anymore, and a replacement will be announced soon. Both Mario Sperry and Ricardo Arona are now taking medication and recovering with expectations of being part of PRIDE’s August card. |
posted by Full Contact Fighter @ 8:00 pm