issue 220

August 2025

Illness doesn’t care about fight camp. Ignore the warning signs and your comeback could cost more than cardio. Here’s how to stay smart, stay sharp, and protect your team when sickness strikes.

Every fighter prides themselves on grit. You train through bruises, aches, cuts, and the grind of fight camp because that’s what it takes to make it in this sport. But when illness strikes, the push-through mindset can become your worst enemy. Returning to training too soon, or refusing to step away at all, isn’t toughness. It’s sabotage.

That’s the warning from Dr. Asoka Wijayawickrama, a West London GP, cageside medic, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt who contributes to the medical charity Safe MMA. He bridges two worlds: the cage and the clinic. While the average person can rest up and bounce back, fighters who ignore fatigue or other symptoms risk injuries, setbacks, and even serious health problems. If exhaustion lingers despite easing back, if you’re sweating at night, dropping weight without trying, or coughing for weeks - especially if there’s blood involved - it’s not just the grind. That’s your body sounding the alarm. Here’s what the good doctor has to say on the matter

FIGHTING A COUGH

Most respiratory illnesses are just viral infections that come and go. A nagging cough from acute viral bronchitis can hang around for three weeks. With strong lungs and serious conditioning, fighters often think they can simply train through it. And sometimes they can. But fatigue is the hidden danger. Sparring or pushing cardio when you’re worn down makes you slower, sloppier, and far more likely to pick up an injury. This is the time to be smart. Flow roll. Drill. Sharpen technique. Leave the lung-busting hill sprints and shark tank sparring for when you’re truly healthy. If you start running fevers, feel stabbing chest pain when breathing, or find yourself short of breath, it’s not normal. It could be pneumonia. And if you are hit with pneumonia, you’ll need to be patient with your comeback. Fatigue can take months to clear. So, it’s best to build back with light cardio, pads, and controlled rolling, letting your body lead the pace.

THE STOMACH BUG THAT WRECKS FIGHT CAMP

Few things derail training camp like gastroenteritis. One day of vomiting, a week of diarrhea, and suddenly you’re drained, cramping, and struggling to keep anything down. For a fighter, the stakes are higher. Every episode results in fluid and electrolyte loss, especially potassium, which your muscles need to function correctly. Without it, cramps and injuries are waiting. Add weight cutting into the mix, and gastroenteritis becomes a genuine threat to your health. Hydration is your primary weapon here. During the vomiting stage, sip slowly on diluted apple juice or oral rehydration solutions, such as Dioralyte. When diarrhea takes over, avoid fruit juices and fizzy drinks, which only make things worse. After every episode, replace what you’ve lost with at least 200ml of fluids containing electrolytes. If symptoms drag on past a week, if blood shows up, or if you’re so dehydrated that you’re barely urinating, it’s time to see a doctor. Fighters training overseas, in Thailand, Brazil, or anywhere food and water standards differ, need to be extra vigilant. A stomach bug abroad can be more aggressive. So, if your fever is intensifying or things are worsening quickly, don’t gamble on getting better. Get checked early.

PROTECT THE GYM, PROTECT THE TEAM

MMA isn’t a solo sport. It’s built on collaboration between teammates, drilling partners, and coaches, so you need to look after them. Gastroenteritis spreads through a gym like wildfire. Even when you feel okay, you’re still infectious for 48 hours after your last symptoms have passed. That means showing up too soon risks taking out your whole team. Being professional and acting with respect means sitting out, keeping your own towel, and staying away from meal prep for others. Protecting your training partners is as important as protecting yourself.

TRAIN SMART

In the cage, toughness is celebrated. But toughness doesn’t mean ignoring warning signs. True professionalism is knowing when to push and when to step back. Illness doesn’t mean weakness. It’s a fight you win by listening to your body, respecting recovery, protecting your teammates, and taking a strategic approach. Train smart, recover smart, and when it’s time to return, you’ll step back onto the mats sharper, stronger, and more battle-ready than ever.