A display of dedication that transcends the typical coach relationship, Adam Hicks stood firmly in Sedriques Dumas’s corner at UFC 314 while battling brain cancer.
Hicks, who has been part of the SSI family for 20 years, didn’t let his serious medical condition prevent him from supporting his athlete during Saturday’s middleweight clash against Michal Oleksiejczuk.
The bout itself was brief but intense. Dumas started strong with kicks and feinting jabs to maintain distance, but Oleksiejczuk’s forward pressure and powerful left hand proved decisive. Midway through the first round, Oleksiejczuk connected with a left that visibly affected Dumas’s equilibrium, leading to a TKO stoppage at 2:49 of round one, despite Dumas’s immediate protest of the referee’s decision.
While the defeat was disappointing for Dumas, who had been building momentum with three wins in his last four bouts, the presence of his coach represents a victory of a different kind.
A GoFundMe campaign established to support Hicks during his medical journey has already surpassed its $20,000 goal, raising $20,820 through 140 donations. According to the campaign description, the funds will assist with Hicks’s medical bills and household expenses during what is described as “a long fight ahead of him.”
The MMA community has rallied around Hicks, with many praising his extraordinary commitment. As one observer noted online, Hicks’s determination to continue coaching while undergoing cancer treatment demonstrates “a different level of strength.”
In his interview, Oleksiejczuk thanked his team and gave a special acknowledgment to sixth-ranked UFC middleweight Caio Borralho, a former opponent now in his corner, before calling out Paul Craig as his desired next opponent.
For Dumas and his team, Saturday’s result may not have gone their way, but the courage displayed by coach Hicks provides a powerful reminder that some of the most important battles are fought outside the octagon.
POLISH POWER 🇵🇱 #UFC314
Michal Oleksiejczuk stops Sedriques Dumas in round one!
Watch our prelims LIVE NOW on @UFCFightPass 📺 pic.twitter.com/PRwRKg3ZDj
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) April 12, 2025
