Olympic judo champion and MMA fighter Satoshi Ishii has been discharged from hospital in Aichi, Japan, after undergoing life-saving surgery following a spinal infection which became septic.
Judo legend Ishii, 37, who went on to compete in MMA, submission grappling, pro boxing and kickboxing, has been pursuing acting and was recently part of the cast for upcoming biopic, The Smashing Machine, which is based on American MMA trailblazer Mark Kerr.
The 2008 All Japan Openweight Championships winner played the role of Enson Inoue and described the experience of working with the likes of the The Rock, who plays the role of former UFC champion Kerr, as the “best time I’ve ever had in my life event compared to the Olympics.”
Ishii concluded his role in Vancouver in July and recently travelled to his native Japan where he felt ill and was rushed to hospital where he underwent three surgeries in two weeks.
“I was finally discharged from hospital,” said the world-renowned fighter (on 16 August) who remains the youngest men’s heavyweight Olympic judo champion of all time after winning gold in Beijing at the age of 20 in 2008.
“My neck disk and spine got an infected and it became septic. My last surgery was on August 5 and until yesterday (15 August) I was taking an antibiotic drip. My weight fell to 97kg/ 213lbs."
Despite making a remarkable recovery, the DREAM, K-1 and Bellator veteran’s upper body is still paralysed and he was unable to curl a 2kg dumbbell during his first rehabilitation session.
“My upper body is paralysed. I have to keep going to hospital for rehabilitation, checking my blood work and MRI's and so on."
“Thank you so much to Aichi Sebone Hospital for saving my life. Thank you so much to everyone for sending a lot of kind words, I really appreciate it.
“Everyone’s messages make me strong and I still want to fight again.”
Former Pancrase fighter, pro wrestler and stuntman Paul Lazenby, who also worked on the new Mark Kerr film - which is due to be released in 2025 – was full of praise for Ishii’s work on set and is confident that he can make a full recovery.
"Ishii-san could not have been a nicer guy, he’s incredibly intelligent, speaking four languages and everybody absolutely loved him," said actor and stunt performer Lazenby.
“It really sucks to see what’s happened to him. He was an absolute tank while he was here, 111kg with a six pack.
“When I last spoke with him, he said he was on the upswing so hopefully he manages to do just that.”
Pictures courtesy of Satoshi Ishii's Instagram
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