MMA and UFC community pays tribute to Elias Theodorou after Canadian fighter passes away at age 34
The MMA world was shocked to learn on Sunday night that Canadian MMA fighter Elias Theodorou had died. He was just 34 years of age, and had been privately battling colon cancer.
Theodorou, like many fight fans, became captivated by mixed martial arts after watching The Ultimate Fighter season 1 on Spike TV back in 2006. In 2011 he kicked off his professional MMA career on the Canadian circuit, fighting for Alberta’s Hard Knocks Fighting and Ontario’s Score Fighting Series. When Bellator rolled through Windsor, Ontario, Theodorou competed on the prelims.
In 2013 Elias won middleweight titles in ECC and NAAFS, earning a spot on The Ultimate Fighter Nations: Canada vs. Australia. He would go on to win the TUF middleweight tournament, beating teammate Sheldon Westcott in the finals via KO in the second round. Over his tenure in the UFC he went 8-3 with wins over Bruno Santos, Sam Alvey, Cezar Ferreira, and Eryk Anders.
Released by the promotion following a loss to Derek Brunson in 2019, Theodorou finished his career with a 3-0 run in the minors.
In his last years he continued to push for the legalization of medical marijuana in combat sports and made big legal strides for all MMA fighters. ‘The Spartan’ suffered from nerve damage following an accident that left his hand badly broken, and training only made the pain worse. Ironically, commissions have no problem with fighters showing up on opioid painkillers. But it took Theodorou four years of work to secure the first Canadian therapeutic use exemption in MMA for medical cannabis.
A year later, he’d repeat that feat in the United States for his final MMA fight, paving the way for fighters to have a safe and legitimate non-opioid alternative to deal with the pain that comes with training mixed martial arts.
Hear what Theodorou’s fellow UFC fighters and the MMA community had to say about his unexpected passing below. By all accounts, ‘The Spartan’ was a kind man and a much needed advocate for fighters. He will be missed.
Wow. Loss for words on hearing the news on one of the nicest guys I’ve met in this sport. #RIP Elias. This is saddening
— Aljamain Sterling (@funkmasterMMA) September 12, 2022
Rest In Peace my friend. @EliasTheodorou pic.twitter.com/r51KnalsHL
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) September 12, 2022
— Michael Chiesa (@MikeMav22) September 12, 2022
🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
— Dan Ige (@Dynamitedan808) September 12, 2022
https://twitter.com/weaselsteve/status/1569170323764813824
I’m so sad.,. https://t.co/QC3yPLRxrf
— Roxanne Modafferi (@Roxyfighter) September 12, 2022
https://twitter.com/super_sodiq/status/1569170393906266112
I'm not sure people realize how much of a natural Elias Theodorou was.
He was 21 when he first set foot into a mixed martial arts gym and won The Ultimate Fighter four years later.pic.twitter.com/2vINDsw4ut
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) September 12, 2022
Oh man, It’s so sad to hear about Elias Theodorou. May he Rest In Peace.
— Tanner Boser (@BulldozerBoser) September 12, 2022
You were such a beautiful soul. Always so kind and such a bright light in this world. This news is devastating. You will be greatly missed, but never forgotten. Fly high, Elias! #RingBoy pic.twitter.com/tHP9jv41JU
— Shannon Knapp (@shanknapp) September 12, 2022
https://twitter.com/mieshatate/status/1569177822337593345
So sad, top man #RIP brother ❤️
— Coach JK (@John_Kavanagh) September 12, 2022
Oh my Lord, just saw the horrible news that Elias Theodorou has passed away at only 34. He was an amazing and kind person. Just devastated to hear this. Rest in peace.
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) September 12, 2022
silent cancer battles are so sad especially when finding out after the fact ❤️
given Elias Theodorou was always funny, nice, and in good spirits all the time within the MMA community, it seriously breaks my heart that he was losing his battle with stage 4 at the same time 💔💔 pic.twitter.com/iU0inJfrxM
— Esha Knows ✨️👩🏾💻💬 (@eshaknows) September 12, 2022
I’m shocked, rip. https://t.co/H8hSrIQXsQ
— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) September 12, 2022
RIP Elias Theodorou. A great person and a HUGE voice for the more fair and equitable treatment of marijuana use in MMA and sport.
— Jeff Novitzky (@JeffNovitzkyUFC) September 12, 2022
Make sure to share any thoughts on Elias Theodorou or memories of his fights in the comments section below.
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