Chris Horodecki not medically cleared for Saturday's Affliction event (Updated)

[SinCitysmallGUY]

Former International Fight League stand-out Chris Horodecki (12-1) has been pulled from Saturday's "Affliction: Day of Reckoning" bout with Dan Lauzon (11-2).

Affliction Vice President Tom Atencio today told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) Horodecki was unable to get medical clearance from the California State Athletic Commission.

Horodecki's manager/trainer, Shawn Tompkins, told fiveouncesofpain.com the fighter lost arm strength due to a likely bulging disk in his neck. Initially, a source close to the situation thought the issue might be neurologically related, though that doesn't appear to be the case.

Atencio is currently looking for a replacement fighter to take on Lauzon. The bout is scheduled for the "Day of Reckoning" pay-per-view main card, which also includes a main event between WAMMA heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko and Andrei Arlovski. The night's preliminary card airs live on HDNet.

"Affliction: Day of Reckoning" takes place at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.

Horodecki, a Canadian who turned pro just days after his 18th birthday, fought for the popular TKO organization in Canada before heading to the IFL. There, the now-21-year-old lightweight went 8-1 to become one of the organization's biggest stars. However, in a first-ever IFL lightweight title fight, he suffered a first-round TKO to Ryan Schultz.

Horodecki last competed in April 2008, when he scored a unanimous-decision victory over Nate Lamotte.

Lauzon -- at the ripe age of 18 years, six months and 16 days old -- became the youngest fighter ever to compete in the UFC. Lauzon suffered a first-round TKO loss to Spencer Fisher at UFC 64 (and a subsequent submission defeat to Deividas Taurosevicius at a Cage Fury Fighting Championships event), but he's posted seven consecutive stoppage victories since then.

[SinCitysmallGUY]

Chris Horodecki, the now 21-year-old "Polish Hammer" who enjoyed a meteoric rise during the IFL's brief history, ran into trouble during his medical evaluation for Saturday's "Affliction: Day of Reckoning" event, which MMAjunkie.com reported late Wednesday.

He was unable to gain a license for competition in California, scrubbing him from his pay-per-view bout with Dan Lauzon.

As reported by Sam Caplan of fiveouncesofpain.com, Horodecki's manager/trainer, Shawn Tompkins, stated the fighter lacks 80 percent strength in his right arm secondary to a bulging disk in his neck.

From a medical perspective, this is a very interesting explanation. Very rarely would merely a bulging disks cause significant weakness. Herniated disks? Commonly. Bulging disks? Not so much. Also this type of pathology/injury is exceedingly uncommon in an otherwise healthy 21-year-old.

I have often made the statement that many times athletes must be protected from themselves due to their competitive nature. This statement is rarely popular or well received. But this appears to be a prime example.

One would have to wonder why Horodecki even attempted to obtain a license to compete with significant (80 percent) arm weakness. For one, how could he intelligently defend himself? And two, might there be a high likelihood that competing could make this problem far worse?

Why did he attempt licensure? Simple. Because fighters fight. Just as all professional athletes are paid to perform – many times without regard to their potential short-term and long-term physical and/or mental well being.

Hardcore fans commonly complain about the necessity of thorough pre-fight medical evaluations. Clearly the California State Athletic Commission's comprehensive evaluation process protected a talented, young man with a very promising future ahead of him.

Job well done.

Now a young man can receive proper medical treatment and hopefully continue with his career and enjoy a full life.

[gracie bjj]

chris is a awesome fighter imo,hes exciting and aggressive imo

[Hedgehog]

I loved how Schulz knocked the shit out of that cocky fcuker.

Horodecki ain't going anywhere.

IFL was pandering his record, but he doesn't have the goods to get anywhere.

[LatsMcGee]

Bobby Green is replacing him. 

Ryan Schultz has been getting the shit kicked out of him in Japan the past year.  Guy needs a win bad.

I thought Chris got a gift in his first fight with Bart.