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HomeNewsUFC Fighters visit Fort Campbell's Warrior Resiliency and Recovery Center

UFC Fighters visit Fort Campbell’s Warrior Resiliency and Recovery Center

UFC - Ultimate Fighting ChampionshipFort Campbell, KY –  Fort Campbell’s Warrior Resiliency and Recovery Center and National Intrepid Center of Excellence satellite, Intrepid Spirit, director Dr. Bret Logan welcomed four guest Ultimate Fighting Championship fighters November 4th to his traumatic brain injury treatment center.

The UFC guest fighters are visiting Fort Campbell before the “Fight for the Troops” event Wednesday night.

Former UFC fighter Chuck Liddell drives a Humvee simulator as Capt. Brady Hassell assists during a simulated convey Nov. 4. 2013 at the Warrior Resiliency and Recovery Center on Fort Campbell, Ky. where Hassell currently receives treatment for a traumatic brain injury. Liddell, along with fellow UFC guest fighters Forrest Griffin, Fredson Paixao and Jim Miller, received a hands-on tour of portions of TBI therapy sessions that Soldiers receive at the center. In 2014, the WRRC will become a National Intrepid Center of Excellence satellite site, known as the Intrepid Spirit. (U.S. Army Photo by Laura Boyd)
Former UFC fighter Chuck Liddell drives a Humvee simulator as Capt. Brady Hassell assists during a simulated convey Nov. 4. 2013 at the Warrior Resiliency and Recovery Center on Fort Campbell, Ky. where Hassell currently receives treatment for a traumatic brain injury. Liddell, along with fellow UFC guest fighters Forrest Griffin, Fredson Paixao and Jim Miller, received a hands-on tour of portions of TBI therapy sessions that Soldiers receive at the center. In 2014, the WRRC will become a National Intrepid Center of Excellence satellite site, known as the Intrepid Spirit. (U.S. Army Photo by Laura Boyd)

The Warrior Resiliency and Recovery Center is transitioning to the National Intrepid Center of Excellence satellite site, known as the Intrepid Spirit, once construction is complete in 2014. The center is being funded by donations from the American people.

As Logan greeted UFC fighters Chuck Liddell, Forrest Griffin, Jim Miller and Fredson Paixao Monday, he said, “We have the responsibility for the treatment of all concussions in this 30,000 plus Soldier-based population.”

According to Logan, eighty-five percent of Soldier concussions occur off the battlefield. “They occur in training and in normal life cycles.”

Ultimate Fighting Championship guest fighter Fredson Paixao gets the hang of the virtual gunner responsibility during a simulated convey. This simulation is used as a team approach to help Soldiers regain their Soldiering skills when recovering from a traumatic brain injury. Paixao, along with fellow UFC guest fighters Chuck Liddell, Forrest Griffin and Jim Miller, received a hands-on tour Nov. 4, 2013 of portions of TBI therapy sessions that Soldiers receive at Fort Campbell's Warrior Resiliency and Recovery Center, soon to be a National Intrepid Center of Excellence satellite site, known as the Intrepid Spirit. (U.S. Army Photo by Laura Boyd)Logan allowed the fighters to walk alongside of Soldiers who have received TBI treatment to gain a better understanding of how Soldiers work to retrain their brains with Logan’s team.

“Training your brain is just like any other organ or muscle you have – if you exercise it, it will get better. You will get stronger.”

Logan told UFC guest fighters that no matter where Soldiers with traumatic brain injuries find themselves, his team identifies exactly where their gaps are and then design a training program to help the Soldiers.

Logan mentioned that these training tools can be used by anyone who has received a concussion. “It’s going to enhance the capacity of that area of your brain, prevent it from degrading and teach you about the kinds of things you do in your lifestyle that can prevent any further degradation,” Logan said.

“We learned some of the exercises used to help Soldiers coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan. It’s amazing to see all the effort that’s put into helping these men and women get back to normal or just to get back to their daily lives. It’s really good to see that the American people are funding this and help these people get back on their feet,” said UFC fighter Jim Miller.

Ultimate Fighting Championship guest fighter Jim Miller rides a stationary bike on a simulated course with Sgt. 1st Class Landon Ranker Nov. 4. 2013 at the Warrior Resiliency and Recovery Center on Fort Campbell, Ky. Ranker received treatment for a traumatic brain injury at the center and now serves as a cadre member within Fort Campbell's Warrior Transition Battalion. Miller, along with fellow UFC guest fighters Chuck Liddell, Forrest Griffin and Fredson Paixao, received a hands-on tour through portions of TBI therapy sessions that Soldiers receive at the center, which will soon become a National Intrepid Center of Excellence satellite site, known as the Intrepid Spirit. (U.S. Army Photo by Laura Boyd)Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Chuck Liddell said he enjoyed his experience going through rotations of physical, speech and occupational therapy at the TBI center.

“It’s pretty cool, all the drills they go through and how it helps to get their memory back and memory working again, said Liddell.

Most importantly, UFC guest fighters were happy to see Soldiers receive the appropriate care they deserve in retraining their brain after a traumatic brain injury.

“You’ve got people that have served and done great things for us,” said former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Forrest Griffin. “The absolute least we can do is give them the best chance in civilian life to get them close to where they were before they had an injury.”

“These guys have put so much on the line for us. It’s the least we can do to get them back to where or somewhere close to where there were before they left to protect us,” said Liddell.

According to Logan, the TBI treatment model is designed for active duty Soldiers but the overall intent is for the model to be expanded to healthcare outside the military in the next five to ten years.

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