John Hathaway, a UFC veteran, returns to MMA after a eight-year battle with bowel disease.

The British fighter [18-2]It was as impressive as ever against Andre Ricardo [11-6-2]He won the unanimous decision by dominating the floor for three rounds.

“It means a lot. It was a really good, enjoyable kind of fight,” Hathaway said post-fight.

“Obviously, everyone wishes they got the finish, but it was my first one out in eight years, so I kind of had to put the (work) in, go for the gears and figure out where I was.

“I’m sorry, everyone, I didn’t get the finish. I tried my best, but obviously, it’s been a while.”

Hathaway was once touted as next British UFC star, but his career seemed to be over eight years ago when he began to struggle with ulcerative colitis, a form of Crohn’s disease that causes inflammation and ulcers in the digestive tract.

This disease can lead to diarrhoea, stomach pain, weight loss, and diarrhoea. It can cause bleeding and other life-threatening symptoms.

Hathaway claims that he was first diagnosed after a career setback against Mike Pyle, in 2010. It began to impact his camps as he took an anti-inflammatory medication that caused other undesirable symptoms.

The 36-year-old managed to make a three-fight win-steak after that, before Dong Hyun Kim took him out with a severe spinning elbow in March 2014.

By this point, the disease was getting in the way of Hathaway’s career and he was forced to turn down a few fights while he attempted to find a quick resolution for the issue.

However, it’s taken eight years, and three surgeries, including one to remove a five-pound piece of his large bowel and another to install a stoma bag for waste.

Hathaway is confident that he is now cured and does not need to carry a bag. However, Hathaway must be careful about what and how he eats.

Technically, the Englishman remains signed to UFC but both fighters decided it was best for him to take a tune up fight after so much time.

Hathaway could be back in the UFC Octagon by 2023.