This weeks episode of The Ultimate Fighter 7 highlighted a nasty knockout during the Matt Riddle/Dan Simmler fight. While the first round of the fight went back and forth, the second round ended quickly and in scary fashion. After heading out of his corner to touch gloves, Riddle caught Simmler with a vicious right hook and dropped him where he was able to land three more punches before Herb Dean could stop the fight. While Simmler lay unconscious and moaning on the canvas, the camera panned across the TUF 7 fighters. Solemn faces saw something they may never see in the cage again, a Grade 3 concussion. Symptoms include loss of consciousness for any amount of time and amnesia of more than five minutes. When Simmler awoke, he had no idea he had just fought on The Ultimate Fighter in Las Vegas.

According to Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology, when faced with a Grade 3 concussion:

• Transport the athlete from the field to the nearest emergency department by ambulance if still unconscious or if worrisome signs are detected (with cervical spine immobilization, if indicated).
• A thorough neurologic evaluation should be performed emergently, including appropriate neuroimaging procedures when indicated.
• Hospital admission is indicated if any signs of pathology are detected, or if the mental status of the athlete remains abnormal.

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