World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) bantamweight fighter Will Ribeiro was in a motorcycle accident early Tuesday morning and is currently comatose in a hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, according to a report by Frank Curreri on WEC.tv.Ribeiro's manager, Ed Soares, confirmed the news.
Soares said one of his assistants in Brazil told him Ribeiro was riding as a passenger on the motorcycle and was not wearing a helmet. The street they were riding on was slick due to rain. Ribeiro was rushed to a local hospital and underwent emergency surgery.
"My assistant said that the doctor said for sure that he (Ribeiro) has lost sight in one of his eyes," Soares told WEC.tv. "He's still in a coma. After surgery the doctor said there is a 50-50 shot that he will come out of it (survive)."
Ribeiro (10-2), launched his professional career five years ago in his native Brazil. After a 9-1 start to his career, which included a 3-0 mark in Shooto, he made his WEC debut with a split decision victory over Chase Beebe in June.
Ribeiro currently ranked No. 7 in the world at 135 pounds, competed recently at WEC 37 in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 3, where he lost by submission to No. 2 ranked Brian Bowles.
The 25-year-old Brazilian is an extremely well-rounded fighter who grew up poor and lost his father at the age of 2. His mother also died, leaving Ribeiro to raise his 12-year-old sister.
"He's a very positive guy, very hard-working, a good person," Soares said of Ribeiro to WEC.tv. "He had had a very rough life. His mother passed away like seven years ago and he took over the care of his younger sister. He's like a father-brother-mother to her... I'm still crushed right now."
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