Source: WCCO.com

He made his reputation as a big, bad, unstoppable athlete but Ultimate Fighting Champion Brock Lesnar is very sick. The former University of Minnesota wrestling champion, and pro-wrestler, is hospitalized with a mystery illness. Ultimate Fighting President Dana White said Lesnar has an intestinal disorder that requires major surgery, possibly at the Mayo Clinic. A source told WCCO that Lesnar has a severe case of diverticulitis, a disease where small pouches form in the digestive system. Lesnar announced in October he was withdrawing from his upcoming title defense match due to an unspecified illness. That match, originally scheduled for Nov. 21, was pushed back to January.

Diverticulitis occurs when one or more diverticula in your digestive tract become inflamed or infected. Diverticula are small, bulging pouches that can form anywhere in your digestive system, including your esophagus, stomach and small intestine. However, they’re most commonly found in the large intestine. Diverticula are common, especially after age 40. When you have diverticula, the condition is known as diverticulosis. You may never even know you have these pouches because they seldom cause any problems, such as diverticulitis. Sometimes, however, diverticulitis occurs, causing severe abdominal pain, fever, nausea and a marked change in your bowel habits. Mild cases of diverticulitis can be treated with rest, changes in your diet and antibiotics. But serious cases of diverticulitis may require surgery.