Escaping death's doorstep: How Jamie Siraj battled back from terrifying illness

Jamie Siraj felt like he was on top of the world in 2019. Win after win had placed him at the UFC doorstep. A call seemed it could come at any time – but that's when the headaches and stomach issues began.

In a profession where brain trauma isn't unusual, Siraj tacked it up to a concussion. He had no idea what he was in for. Fast forward a matter of months, and Siraj laid in a hospital bed, unable to stand. But doctors gave him a clean bill of health. Siraj felt distrusted and unheard.

"People insinuated I was faking it," Siraj told MMA Junkie. "Doctors said nothing was wrong. Meanwhile I was fainting, heart rate at 140 daily, blood pressure at 194/115. I had to become my own advocate. It drove me mental. That lack of belief hurt deeply."

Eventually, there was no denying something was wrong. In 2021, Siraj's face broke out in a skin infection, rendering him swollen and unrecognizable. He was diagnosed with autoimmune encephalitis, a condition where the immune system attacks the brain. Doctors, however, couldn't figure out how to stop the siege.

"It progressed," Siraj said. "I had severe stomach issues, was put on immune suppressive drugs that made me sicker. A truckload of health problems followed."

The diagnosis then changed. A rheumatologist diagnosed him with systemic sclerosis, also known as scleroderma, an autoimmune disease attacking connective tissue and increasing susceptibility to infection. The skin presentation was due to a septic infection with bacteria growing in his stomach wall. Siraj underwent surgery.

"It was very rare," Siraj said. "Doctors said it was the worst skin infection they’d ever seen. I signed a waiver to be studied. When my face got infected, it finally showed people something was truly wrong."

The prognosis shifted to dire. Siraj thought he was going to die.

"They weren’t giving me a high chance of survival," Siraj said. "I dealt with recurring infections for about a year. I became antibiotic resistant. ... I was as close to death as close as you can get. Extremely high inflammatory markers, irregular heart rhythms, constant monitoring, IV antibiotics. I’ve never felt pain like that. I cried from pain. I was sedated often. The infection spread from a hole in my mouth into my lungs. It was horrendous."