Bellator official: Cris Lencioni medical condition requires 'thoughts and prayers'

Cris Lencioni, a Bellator featherweight, is battling a health scare of unknown severity, but one that his promotional family is asking “thoughts and prayers” for.

Social media reports circulated this past week that Lencioni suffered a medical incident in training, and those reports ranged from the 28-year-old in a coma to situations far less severe. Lencioni’s immediate family has not given an update.

But Sunday, Chael Sonnen, a longtime Lencioni training partner near Portland, posted a video saying Lencioni needed prayers. He said he’s been in daily contact with the family and said Lencioni was not in a coma, according to a doctor, at any time after he collapsed.

A Bellator official confirmed to MMA Junkie on Sunday that Lencioni had suffered an incident.

“We are aware of Cris Lencioni’s current medical condition and are monitoring the situation closely,” a Bellator official said in a statement to MMA Junkie. “We ask you to join us in sending thoughts and prayers to Cris and his family as he navigates his recovery process.”

Lencioni is scheduled to fight James Gallagher at Bellator 298 on Aug. 11, though that matchup likely is in jeopardy for cancellation. He has four straight wins, including two in his return to Bellator.

He took a split decision from Cody Law in December 2022, then submitted Blake Smith with an inverted triangle choke at Bellator 294 in April.