Matt Hughes is in stable condition two days after the truck he was driving was struck by a train, his sister wrote Sunday on Facebook.
The UFC legend has “no broken bones or internal injuries,” Hughes’ sister Beth Hughes Ulrici wrote in an official statement from his family.
“He has some minor lacerations and bruising and is currently being weaned from his ventilator,” the statement read. “He is not yet awake and not responding as we would like to see but we see the fight in him.”
Hughes, 43, was seriously injured when he drove a pickup truck onto train tracks in front of a train Friday morning in Raymond, Ill., per Illinois State Police. The train struck the passenger side of his truck. He was airlifted to HSHS St. John’s Hospital in Springfield, Ill.
Monte Cox, Hughes’ longtime manager, told MMA Fighting on Saturday that Hughes was “awake and responsive,” per information he was receiving from Hughes’ brother Mark. Hughes Ulrici wrote in the statement Sunday that it wants all information coming only from the family.
“Our family is overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support,” the statement read. “Please understand that there are many false reports out there by people who say they are close to the family. We will post another update here when we have more news.
“Matt’s strength and determination along with God's Mercy and Grace will bring him through this. … We ask that you all continue to pray.”
Hughes is a UFC Hall of Famer and one of the greatest welterweight fighters in MMA history, with victories over the likes of Georges St-Pierre and BJ Penn. He retired from competition in 2011.
Update: The HSHS St. John’s hospital just posted the following below on Facebook.
Former UFC fighter and Hillsboro native Matt Hughes is currently in stable condition, but he remains minimally responsive. Hughes’ family asks that you keep Matt in your thoughts and prayers.
Hughes was airlifted to HSHS St. John’s Hospital on Friday, June 16, 2017. The HSHS St. John’s Regional Trauma Team stabilized him and continues to help him in his recovery.