UFC fighter Leslie Smith has been known for her toughness and grit, being an established veteran that has had some serious wars throughout her career. Yet in a recent piece on AXS TV regarding the possibility of a fighters association or union, she revealed that she has a tumor on her stomach, which she cannot afford to treat. Courtesy of AXS TV’s YouTube channel, at the 2:21 mark:

“I have a tumor on my stomach. But, I don't have a way to get that fixed. I don't have a way to get that taken off because it's not a fight related issue.

As we know by now, fighters are covered under a medical insurance policy upon signing with the organization. However, it should be noted that the UFC’s current insurance plan for fighters works more as a form of liability insurance that covers the combatants for injuries suffered during fights or training. This is not the kind of medical insurance that an employer would typically provide in the United States, that covers the general health of an individual and in most cases, their families as well.

Leslie Smith (8-7-1) has been fighting since 2008 as an amateur, with professional fights in Bellator, Invicta, and her current home, the UFC. Her last bout was a TKO loss to Cris Cyborg at UFC 198 in May. She is 2-3 in five UFC fights overall.