Tag: Elias Theodorou

Elias Theodorou, antiguo peleador de la UFC murió a los 34 años; la MMA está de duelo

Elias Theodorou, antiguo peleador de la UFC y ganador de “TUF Nations” ha muerto. Theodorou murió el domingo tras una larga batalla contra el cáncer. Después de que salieron varios reportes en línea, fuentes cercanas a Theodorou confirmaron su …

Elias Theodorou, antiguo peleador de la UFC y ganador de “TUF Nations” ha muerto.

Theodorou murió el domingo tras una larga batalla contra el cáncer. Después de que salieron varios reportes en línea, fuentes cercanas a Theodorou confirmaron su fallecimiento a MMA Junkie. Tenía 34 años.

Según Aaron Bronsteter, periodista de TSN journalist, Theodorou fue diagnosticado con cáncer de hígado en etapa 4. Antes de su fallecimiento, Theodorou no había hecho pública la información.

De 2014 a 2019, Theodorou, originario de Ontario, compitió 11 veces en la UFC. Su carrera en los reflectores internacionales despuntó cuando ganó “TUF Nations” al noquear a Sheldon Westcott. Más tarde, llegó a derrotar a nombres de la talla de Cezar Ferreira, Sam Alvey, Eryk Anders y Trevor Smith. Sus únicas tres derrotas con la empresa de promoción fueron ante Thiago Santos, Brad Tavares y Derek Brunson.

Tras su derrota ante Brunson en mayo de 2019, Theodorou fue liberado de la UFC. A pesar del exitoso récord de 8-3 que Theodorou tenía con la UFC, Dana White, el presidente de la UFC, dijo que la decisión se basaba, en parte, en la poca probabilidad de que Theodorou se convirtiera en un peleador del top 5.

Theodorou tomó su liberación con calma y prometió reinventarse a sí mismo para aumentar su tasa de victorias por KO. Tras su salida, estuvo 3-0, cuando en su más reciente pelea, le ganó a Bryan Baker el pasado diciembre.

En los últimos años de su carrera, Theodorou se convirtió en un firme defensor para quitar el estigma a los peleadores y para que se les permitiera el derecho a utilizar cannabis para uso médico. En enero de 2020, se convirtió en el primer atleta profesional en recibir la TUE (Exención para uso terapéutico, por sus siglas en inglés).

Theodorou también sirvió como “ring boy” para Invicta FC y salió en la tercera temporada de “The Amazing Race Canada” en 2015.

 

Artículo traducido por Ana Lucía Toledo

Former UFC fighter Elias Theodorou dead at 34; MMA community mourns

Elias Theodorou, a former UFC fighter and “TUF Nations” winner has died – hitting the MMA community hard.

Former UFC fighter and “TUF Nations” winner [autotag]Elias Theodorou[/autotag] has died.

Theodorou died Sunday after a battle with cancer. Sources who knew Theodorou confirmed the news to MMA Junkie after various reports surfaced of his death online. Theodorou hadn’t publicly revealed his illness prior to his death.

According to TSN journalist Aaron Bronsteter, Theodorou was diagnosed with Stage 4 liver cancer.

From 2014-2019, Ontario’s Theodorou competed 11 times in the UFC. His career kickstarted when he won “TUF Nations” with a knockout of Sheldon Westcott. He went on to defeat names like Cezar Ferreira, Sam Alvey, Eryk Anders, and Trevor Smith. His only three promotional losses came against perennial contenders Thiago Santos, Brad Tavares, and Derek Brunson.

After the loss to Brunson in May 2019, Theodorou was released from the UFC. Despite Theodorou’s lopsidedly successful UFC record (8-3), UFC president Dana White said the decision to part ways was based on the unlikelihood Theodorou would become a top-five fighter.

Theodorou took his release in stride and vowed to reinvent himself. He went 3-0 after his departure, with his most recent win in December over Bryan Baker.

In the later years of his career, Theodorou became a vocal advocate for destigmatization and allowance of medical cannabis. In January 2020, he became the first professional athlete to receive a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) for it.

Theodorou also served as a “ring boy” for Invicta FC and was featured on “The Amazing Race Canada, Season 3” in 2015.

Photos: Elias Theodorou through the years

Check out these photos highlighting former UFC fighter Elias Theodorou’s career through the years.

Check out these photos highlighting [autotag]Elias Theodorou[/autotag]’s career through the years.

Theodorou, who won “The Ultimate Fighter Nations” and spent five years in the UFC, died on Sept. 11, 2022, after a battle with liver cancer. He was 34.

 

MMA Junkie Radio #3208: Bellator 271 and UFC Fight Night 197 preview, guest Elias Theodorou

Thursday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with hosts “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here.

Thursday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with hosts “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here.

On Episode 3,208, the guys previewed another buys weekend with Bellator 271 and UFC Fight Night 197, as well as addressing the latest headlines in the sport. Additionally, [autotag]Elias Theodorou[/autotag], who will compete in the U.S. as the first athlete to utilize a medical exemption for cannabis.

Stream or download this and all episodes of MMA Junkie Radio over at OmnyStudio. You can also catch it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and more. A new episode of the podcast is released every Monday and Thursday.

Video: ‘TUF’ winner Elias Theodorou moves to 2-0 in post-UFC career with TKO

Elias Theodorou remained undefeated in his post-UFC career when he beat Matt Dwyer in the main event of Rise FC 6.

[autotag]Elias Theodorou[/autotag] remained undefeated in his post-UFC fighting career on Saturday when he beat fellow octagon veteran Matt Dwyer in the main event of Rise FC 6.

After being released from the UFC following a loss to Derek Brunson in May 2019, Theodorou (18-3) picked up his second consecutive victory outside the promotion with a third-round TKO of Dwyer (11-8) in their middleweight headliner, which took place at Songhees Wellness Centre in Victoria, B.C., Canada.

It was a classic showing from Theodorou. He used pressure, wrestling and ground-and-pound to wear down Dwyer over the course of the bout. By the time the third round arrived, Theodorou – who won “The Ultimate Fighter: Nations” in April 2014 – got himself in position to unleash a flurry of punches that forced the referee to wave off the bout.

Check out these highlights (via Instagram):

https://www.instagram.com/p/CMaPXG_Dn8X/?igshid=1c60z4odla60c

Theodorou, 32, is now 2-0 in his post-UFC tenure, adding Dwyer’s name to his resume after also finishing UFC veteran Hernani Perpetuo with strikes at a PFC event in December 2019.

The fight was meaningful for Theodorou beyond just getting his hand raised. The Canadian has been pushing hard for the allowance of therapeutic-use exceptions for cannabis in MMA for the past several years. He received one from the British Columbia Sporting Commission going into the fight, which he said is a significant moment in MMA.

[vertical-gallery id=310501]

Elias Theodorou matched up with fellow UFC vet in first fight since release

Former UFC middleweight Elias Theodorou returns to action for the first time since being cut from the promotion earlier this year.

Former UFC middleweight [autotag]Elias Theodorou[/autotag] will return to action for the first time since being cut from the promotion earlier this year.

Theodorou (16-3 MMA) takes on fellow UFC veteran [autotag]Hernani Perpetuo[/autotag] at Prospect Fighting Championships 12, the promotion announced on their Facebook page.

The event takes place Saturday, Dec. 6 at St. Denis Centre in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

“The Ultimate Fighter 25” winner Theodorou was on a three-fight winning streak when he dropped an unanimous decision to Derek Brunson at UFC on ESPN+ 9 in Ottawa in early May. One loss was enough for the UFC brass to sever ties, as Theodorou was released shortly after the event.

Theodorou’s release came as a surprise to many, who pegges the decision to his fighting style. Only two of his 11 UFC fights ended inside the distance. A member of the UFC’s roster since 2014, Theodorou had compiled an 8-3 record for the promotion.

[lawrence-related id=460083,415343]

As for Perpetuo (20-8 MMA), the 34-year-old Brazilian competed two times for the UFC in 2014. He lost both efforts by unanimous decision to Jordan Mein and Tim Means. Since his UFC departure, Perpetuo has competed all over the world for notable promotions such as ONE Championship, Fight Nights Global, and Shooto Brazil.

Check out the official Theodorou vs. Perpetuo announcement below:

https://www.facebook.com/prospectmma/posts/2581251415322803?__xts__[0]=68.ARDv4IKDQY2rr1v-Z8vsjDWPVsoN-jsN-PXljA2S2N2n9kJXRx6USObJjaJL3OMAO0C40fBkT63HCzD7MlV3Q2UPM-Jn6vG5ZPyg8wvuYJ8YFysIszZTa1yn9NRHvoisUI7dxxNIF8G7AWAVs88X7ChEUo5OyFmyjhSZJ0q2tKrnPHBTe0kE2EtgVaK7HhoA_MBUJKWKmFeukHzkipvH75CzasOT9hrrQLvCcrL83lOL7u0JC9qlPDK9niFFD2LurdoTkVOHUJhKhbbn26wSqF2K_3k8Htm9mkhhOqLcyAxdvuCNO7xKMXX–KRdvebQRIK2z2CkiQAtDY4aqBieWXti8A&__tn__=-R

[vertical-gallery id=310501]