The sad news of a young athlete being paralyzed will never be softened by euphemisms or optimistic outlooks. Such is the case with 22-year-old Devin Johnson who was recently paralyzed during training session at Urijah Faber‘s Ultimate Fitness Gym in what sounds like a guillotine attempt during a takedown.

Sacramento’s News 10 has the full story:

Devin Johnson, 22, was sparring at the facility, located on the 1700 block of I Street on May 14 when he fell while in a headlock.

When Devin arrived at UC Davis Medical Center he was paralyzed. The impact from the fall dislocated Devin’s spine.

…

“What Mr. Johnson, unfortunately, had was injury between his fourth and fifth spine in his neck,” said Dr. Kee Kim, Chief of Spinal Neurosurgery at UC Davis Medical Center.

Johnson’s spine slipped and caused damage to the spinal cord, causing what’s called facet fracture-dislocation. Kim used a metal implant to stabilize Johnson’s spine. It was his first time treating a patient who suffered a spinal cord injury from MMA.

Thoughts go out to Devin and his family from the entire BJPENN.com staff.