LAS VEGAS – Ian Heinisch remained silent, until he couldn’t take it anymore. He just wanted to feel normal, a state he hadn’t been in for a year and a half.
In July 2023, Heinisch (14-5 MMA, 3-4 UFC) announced an indefinite break from MMA, something he now calls a “retirement, due to brain trauma. Heinisch credits MMA for turning his life around, so stepping away was heart-wrenching, though necessary.
“Man, I hid it for probably a year-and-a-half,” Heinisch told MMA Junkie on the 16th Annual World MMA Awards red carpet. “When I was supposed to fight Sam Alvey, I had to pull out of that fight. I couldn’t hide it anymore. I couldn’t go to the gym. I didn’t feel like myself. I had headaches all the time. I had confusion. One time, I was driving in my car and I forgot where I was at. That was when I was like, ‘OK, my only priority right now is to feel normal again.’ Luckily, through stem cells and CPI and all these different treatments and just time, not getting hit, I’m feeling good. I’m still training, not doing anything contact. But I love this sport, man. It chose me, and now it’s been taken from me. It sucks, but my heart is still here for the people and I love my journey.”
