Brian Foster stuck in MMA purgatory until officially cleared by a neurologist

Brian Foster has always been a fighter known for bringing it each and every time out.

But that doesn't seem to matter when you can't be medically cleared to compete and don't have the funds to actually get a new test, according a very personal article written by his friend Duane Finley.

The former H.I.T. Squad fighter held a 3-2 record inside the UFC including winning his final two bouts with the promotion but a pre-fight exam before a UFC 129 bout revealed a brain hemorrhage and he was eventually released from the UFC due to being a medical liability.

After taking time to let his body and mind heal, Foster returned to the cage just six months later, winning two fights in two weeks in less than five minutes combined.

It was then announced that he would participate in the Bellator season six welterweight tournament, but again, he would be removed from the card on short notice when the Mohegun Sun commission head Mike Mizzuli refused to clear him and then put him on a national suspension list, citing his earlier medical issues with the UFC.

Having since visited several neurologists and taken new MRIs, Foster has been told that he seems to have recovered, but no one will take the liability of being the doctor to officially clear him for competition and take that risk. I'll let the article speak for itself:

"Everything looks fine," [the neurologist] said nonchalantly. "I don't see any reason why he can't fight."

His words put my spirit through the roof as I finally heard what I had been waiting to hear for so long. I couldn't keep the smile from my face but when the doctor continued with his assessment, I quickly returned to the bottom floor.

He informed me while the MRI looked fine, he wouldn't be able to attach his name to the case. The doctor explained the liability involved would be too great of a risk and he wasn't interested in placing himself in such a position. While I understood his reason, it brought the harsh reality of the situation crashing down upon me. Despite a clean MRI, finding a Neurologist who understood how the fight business works was going to be extremely difficult. It was going to be a merry-go-round of chance and with no money to spend, the window for success was diminishing.

The next two Neurologists said the same exact thing. They saw nothing of concern but couldn't risk the liability involved.

With funds completely depleted, Foster can't afford to take new MRIs. For now, his fighting career seems over, and it's a damn shame.

In the meantime, Foster has taken up a construction job but he hasn't given up hope yet. After Finley's article was published, Foster responded saying:

"My fire is still burning patiently inside. Givin the opportunity I will set the cage ablaze!"

Here's hoping that at 28 years old, he can one day get that opportunity again.