Dec 28, 2013; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Anderson Silva reacts after breaking his leg on a kick to Chris Weidman (not pictured) during their UFC middleweight championship bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Dec 28, 2013; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Anderson Silva reacts after breaking his leg on a kick to Chris Weidman (not pictured) during their UFC middleweight championship bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. REUTERS

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight champion Anderson Silva's road back to prominence is encountering a lot of roadblocks. Due partly to his age, rigorous training and numerous bouts, "The Spider" was rushed to the hospital due to severe back pain.

The Brazilian jiu-jitsu artist complained of severe lower back pain and feeling numbness on his legs after his he just completed training at X Gym in Rio de Janeiro. According to a report by Combate, the 39-year-old fighter was rushed to the hospital where he remained overnight. He was cleared Tuesday morning by the medical team who no severe condition that would prohibit Silva to resume his training and continue his match with Nick Diaz.

"He felt a severe pain because of the contracture," Dr. Mauricio Tannure, Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission medical doctor, said. "The issue he had explains the pain but won't get him sidelined or even cancel the bout."

The diagnosis was arrived after Silva underwent an assortment of tests including MRI, CT scans and blood tests which all established that it was a case of lumbago. The said ailment is a type of disease that targets the lower back and usually happens to 40% of people at any point in their lives.

This case of severe lower back pain was the first red flag to the health of Silva after he experienced the gruesome leg injury, which broke his tibia and fibula during his rematch with Chris Weidman December 2013. Many thought that the Spider would all but retire, but he decided against it and again shocked the world by signing a 15-fight deal with the UFC.

He is now set to resume his ascend to the top once again as he faces prodigal son and trash-talking Nick Diaz Jan. 31 at UFC 183. The fight will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada, which would showcase a five round non-title match between two come backing warriors. This early, Silva is already being favoured by most analysts due to his experience but the question marks on his health and psychological mindset from recovering from the injury is putting a cloud to some of the predictions.

Superstar Canadian wrestler Georges St-Pierre even went as far as saying that Diaz would do well in the bout if he survives the first two rounds and shows his stamina in the latter rounds.