Macy Chiasson says decisions she made in deadly crane collapse 'really similar' to UFC bouts
Macy Chiasson spoke in-depth Tuesday with UFC.com in the aftermath of a deadly crane collapse in Dallas that destroyed her apartment building. Chiasson, currently 5-0 in the UFC, equated the skills she used during the disaster to those she uses in the sport.
Chiasson’s escape similar to cage decisions
The crane collapsed Sunday near downtown Dallas during a storm and killed a 29-year-old woman two floors above Chiasson’s place. She previously told TMZ she was home for approximately 20 minutes when she heard noises that couldn’t have been construction from the nearby build.
She called her dog, “T,” and scrambled to get out of the building. She told UFC.com she didn’t even grab shoes, let alone any other item as the crane crashed floor by floor.
Chiasson relied on her ability to adapt and make decisions on the fly to escape her apartment. She believes that her time in mixed martial arts, combined with life experience, helped her make the correct decisions on the way to safety.
“Honestly it is really similar to what you do in the cage,” Chiasson said. “You can’t really think about what you’re doing in the moment. You have to react, protect yourself and understand how to deal with uncomfortable situations.”
The bantamweight fighter escaped without major injuries, per the report, and called it “by far one of the craziest moments of my life.”
UFC fighter loses everything
Tenants were unable to return to the complex due to the amount of debris outside, including glass from windows, and entire apartments are demolished. Chiasson, 27, said all she has left is her dog.
“I’m feeling a little shaken up and I’m definitely still in shock. I’m fortunate to be alive,” Chiasson told UFC.com. “If you look at where the crane stopped, my apartment is the first apartment underneath it in the ‘red zone.’”
She told UFC.com important documents, such as her birth certificate and drivers license, and UFC memorabilia are all in the rubble. She also left behind all of her clothes, training gear and the trophy from “The Ultimate Fighter: Heavy Hitters.”
Her coach, Sayif Saud, came to get her after the accident, per the report. UFC president Dana White was there for the fighter “in every way possible,” according to a tweet by Saud on Tuesday, and has provided clothing, equipment and other items in the aftermath, per the report.
Chiasson will move to her parents’ home in Louisiana for now.
Chiasson files lawsuit after crane collapse
The fighter filed a lawsuit against the apartment complex and the Bigge Crane and Rigging Co., who she said failed to inspect and maintain the crane. She claims the defendants “breached their duties of ordinary care to the Plaintiff by failing to adequately warn the Plaintiff and others for the condition and failing to make that condition reasonably safe.”
More from Yahoo Sports:
