Fighter Injured in Martial Arts Event Is Critical

A competitor who took four blows to the head in a martial arts fight Saturday at the Great Western Forum remained hospitalized in critical condition Sunday after undergoing hours of surgery.

Redone Bougara suffered severe bleeding in the brain, Dr. Robert Karns said.

Bougara underwent neurosurgery at Daniel Freeman Memorial Hospital that ended early Sunday but it will be several days before it is determined whether he has a chance at recovery, said Karns, the supervising doctor assigned to monitor the bout by the California Athletic Commission.

Bougara, a 23-year-old native of France who lives in Culver City, was hurt during a scheduled 12-round middleweight fight against Malik Borbashev of Russia. A referee stopped the bout at 21 seconds of the 11th round after Bougara took the four head blows while defenseless on the ropes.

The men were competing in a form of martial arts that combines kick boxing and wrestling, and allows kicking and punching to the head. They each wore gloves.