Cris Lencioni is in one of the most difficult situations life could have thrown his way. The 28-year old, whose record as a professional mixed martial artist sits at 11 wins and just three losses, was originally scheduled to take on Bellator's Irish star, James Gallagher. Unfortunately, the bout never took place.Lencioni suffered cardiac arrest earlier this month during a training session. He was immediately hospitalized and has been under constant medical care since June 8.The Bellator featherweight has previously struggled to respond to stimuli, but there's been a glimmer of hope from a new clip shared by his wife, Marca Lencioni.MMAFighting.com@MMAFightingBellator fighter Cris Lencioni, who was hospitalized earlier this month after suffering cardiac arrest, is beginning to respond to stimuli.The latest on Lencioni from @MMAFightingSM bit.ly/LencioniSM103890Bellator fighter Cris Lencioni, who was hospitalized earlier this month after suffering cardiac arrest, is beginning to respond to stimuli.The latest on Lencioni from @MMAFightingSM 📰 bit.ly/LencioniSM https://t.co/6fRNXKCy1dThe depth of Cris Lencioni's medical struggles was revealed after an MRI pointed to brain damage caused by his cardiac arrest. However, a recent clip showed him smiling after being kissed by his wife, as well as him moving his hand. It's a sign of progress in what is expected to be a lengthy road to recovery.Fans took to Twitter to express their elation over his progress and share their hopes for a full rehabilitation for 'Sunshine'.Their comments are as follows:TKO Talk@TalkTKO@MMAFighting @MMAFightingSM Hard to watch without getting emotional. Best wishes to Cris.98@MMAFighting @MMAFightingSM Hard to watch without getting emotional. Best wishes to Cris.AFeldmanMMA@afeldMMA@MMAFighting @MMAFightingSM Crazy to see how fragile life can be. Everything can change very quickly. I’m glad that there are improvements and hope that he continues to make progress in his recovery. 🏼29@MMAFighting @MMAFightingSM Crazy to see how fragile life can be. Everything can change very quickly. I’m glad that there are improvements and hope that he continues to make progress in his recovery. 🙏🏼Kalypso Rum@LifeWithRum@MMAFighting @MMAFightingSM Praying for you Cris! Keep on fighting brother 🫶3@MMAFighting @MMAFightingSM Praying for you Cris! Keep on fighting brother 🫶Demetrius Mete Jones@metejones@MMAFighting @MMAFightingSM This is so beautiful to see. Step by step. Praying for you and your family, bro! 🏾@MMAFighting @MMAFightingSM This is so beautiful to see. Step by step. Praying for you and your family, bro! 🙏🏾❤️Hammer Bets MMA@HammerBets_MMA@MMAFighting @MMAFightingSM Prayers up Sunshine 1@MMAFighting @MMAFightingSM Prayers up Sunshine ❤️Walter Stavert@WStavert@MMAFighting @MMAFightingSM Keep fighting man, prayers for you!4@MMAFighting @MMAFightingSM Keep fighting man, prayers for you!𝕁𝕒𝕔𝕠𝕓 𝕋𝕖𝕩𝕒𝕤™️@ChiefSVP@MMAFighting @MMAFightingSM Sad but promising.@MMAFighting @MMAFightingSM Sad but promising.#JFM@1judgejackson@MMAFighting @MMAFightingSM This is amazing to see. We are praying for a full recovery. It's great to know the organization is helping. Fighters always fight. It's a natural reaction. Sending love and strength to you, your family, friends & fans on your journey Cris🏾🏾You got this@MMAFighting @MMAFightingSM This is amazing to see. We are praying for a full recovery. It's great to know the organization is helping. Fighters always fight. It's a natural reaction. Sending love and strength to you, your family, friends & fans on your journey Cris🙏🏾☝🏾👑You got this👊😤MMA Nerd@nerd_mma@MMAFighting @MMAFightingSM Keep fighting Cris! We're all pulling for you@MMAFighting @MMAFightingSM Keep fighting Cris! We're all pulling for youTurdFerguson@uaebiBhcaZ@MMAFighting @MMAFightingSM Just a little bit of progress each day is all you need. Even if there are days where it feels like eternity, you will get better. Stay up1@MMAFighting @MMAFightingSM Just a little bit of progress each day is all you need. Even if there are days where it feels like eternity, you will get better. Stay upShawn Mabee@ShawnMabee1993@MMAFighting @MMAFightingSM I teared up watching this. Good luck Cris on your recovery. Life is so precious and we all take it for granted. Im counting my blessings today. Things could be worse....@MMAFighting @MMAFightingSM I teared up watching this. Good luck Cris on your recovery. Life is so precious and we all take it for granted. Im counting my blessings today. Things could be worse....Gershon Kum גרשון קום@GershonKum@MMAFighting @MMAFightingSM Wishes for a speedy recovery, strength and lots of health 1@MMAFighting @MMAFightingSM Wishes for a speedy recovery, strength and lots of health 👍It's an unfortunate situation and Bellator itself has expressed that they will be monitoring it closely.Cris Lencioni's MMA run in Bellator'Sunshine' was a fairly successful fighter for where he was at in his career prior to his health-related setback. Lencioni was riding the wave of a four-fight win streak, including two thrilling submissions. He secured a rare inverted triangle choke that earned him his most recent win at Bellator 294 over Blake Smith.Combat Sports Today 📰@CSTodayNewsCris Lencioni with the inverted triangle choke on Blake Smith! #Bellator294125Cris Lencioni with the inverted triangle choke on Blake Smith! #Bellator294 https://t.co/icBCVaYSOdA matchup between him and sensational grappler James Gallagher, who some think can emulate Conor McGregor, was a clash that many were eager for. While the bout was scheduled to take place on August 8, it has since been scrapped due to Lencioni's condition.Meanwhile, Gallagher has not set foot in the cage since suffering a third-round submission loss to Patchy Mix back in late 2021. Unfortunately, Cris Lencioni's ordeal isn't the first time that a Bellator fighter's been derailed by a health-related issue, as Rafael Lovato Jr. was forced to retire due to cerebral cavernoma.