He trains religiously twice a day, every day, with a group of coaches who give him time daily. His programme looks like a normal gym routine of back squats, front squats and leg press, but he still finds plyometric work and running challenging and is working on those now.

He was told that wherever he landed after 18 months was likely how he would stay, but he is still seeing improvements well after that. He says it is hard not to believe he can get back, because refusing to put limits on himself is the mindset that got him this far.

No. He says MMA has given him way more of his life than it has ever taken away, even if he were still in a wheelchair. He still loves watching fights and points out that injuries like his more often come from diving into shallow pools or car crashes.

Curtis explains there are two types of spinal injury, complete and incomplete. He was incomplete, which he is thankful for; he says it is not that people with complete injuries cannot progress, but a complete injury is really not good.

Its premise is that what you probably think is the worst time in your life actually makes you into the best version of yourself. He advises not to worry too much in bad times, to see them as an opportunity to grow and to reframe them positively.