SAI DIED IN CAGE FIGHT MISMATCH, SAY FAMILY
INQUEST INTO TRAGIC DEATH OF FORMER LOUGHBOROUGH STUDENT
AN AMATEUR mixed martial arts fighter died after she was knocked out during a fight, an inquest heard.
Former Loughborough University student Saeideh “Sai” Aletaha, 26, took up her sport to prove that being a Muslim woman was not restrictive.
Sai suffered complications after being knocked out in a cage fight at a Fast And Furious Fight Series.
Friends and relatives questioned why Sai was matched against an opponent who “seemed bigger and more muscled” than she was.
But the coroner ruled that Sai died as a result of a tragic accident which nobody could have predicted.
AN AMATEUR mixed martial arts fighter died after she was knocked out during a fight, an inquest heard.
Saeideh “Sai” Aletaha, 26, who fought wearing a hijab, took up her sport in a bid to prove that being a Muslim woman was not restrictive.
But the former Loughborough University student suffered complications after she was knocked out by Janie Morgan in the third round of their bout at the Fast And Furious Fight Series in Southampton.
Friends of Sai described Ms Morgan as appearing to be a more powerful opponent.
During an inquest into her death, Sai’s family paid tribute to her as “a breath of fresh air bringing sunshine”.
They added: “Saeideh was always patient and the type of person who would help anyone with anything but would never ask anyone for a favour.
“Her dedication to her work, sport and being healthy and physically and mentally fit is something that everybody admired about her.
“It was very devastating for her family to lose Saeideh alone and so far away in such an accident.”
Relatives also questioned why Sai was matched against an opponent who “seemed bigger and more muscled” than she was.
One of her friends watching the fight, Anthony Thomas-Shergold, said in a statement that it was “obvious” that Ms Morgan was “much bigger”.
However the inquest heard there was only 100g – less than a quarter of a pound – difference between Sai and Ms Morgan at weigh-in, and they both had a similar reach.
Richard Harding, promoter of the Fast And Furious Fight Series, said the matchmaking – or pairing up fighters – was the “most important” part of the show.
He said: “Losing someone like this is very hard for everyone.
“This is the absolute worst thing that could happen but I am fully confident that we did as much as we could.”
Sai, who lived in Salisbury, was caught with a straight right cross in the third round of her fight in November 2019, which knocked her out. She was unconscious for “a couple of minutes” before coming round.
Another of her friends, Oliver Pike, said in his statement: “Sai didn’t say anything, she just walked out to the back.
“I knew that something was wrong with her.”
Mr Pike later found his friend collapsed in the toilet and saw paramedics take her to hospital in an ambulance.
She was taken for surgery at Southampton General Hospital but later died.
Mr Pike added: “Sai was the type of person that would never admit that she was hurt and would tell everyone that she was OK.
“I do have concerns that Sai was allowed to go to the toilet alone after being knocked out.”
Ms Morgan said in a statement that as soon as she saw her go down in the third round she stepped back to allow medical staff to attend to her.
Hampshire senior coroner Christopher Wilkinson ruled that Sai died as a result of a tragic accident which nobody could have predicted.
FAMILY AND FRIENDS BELIEVE FIGHT WAS A MISMATCH