Tragedy as MMA star Isaac Johnson, 31, dies hours after collapsing during fight as tributes paid to ‘a true warrior’
AN MMA star has died just hours after collapsing during a bout at a fight in Chicago.
Isaac Johnson, 31, was competing in the Matador Fighter Challenge at Cicero Stadium when he went down toward the end of his fight.
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MMA fighter Isaac Johnson collapsed during a fight at Cicero Stadium on Friday night
The 31-year-old (L) was pronounced dead just hours laterCredit: Unknown
Emergency crews were called at 8.38pm on Friday, and he was taken to Loyola University Medical Center.
Johnson was tragically pronounced dead at 12.01am, according to officials.
Cops in Cicero have opened a death investigation, and an autopsy is pending.
The event was billed as “the ultimate MMA and Thai event, where local warriors will battle it out in high-stakes, high-intensity matches.”
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Johnson was scheduled to fight Corey Newell in a heavyweight Thai boxing match, according to event listings.
Promoter Joe Goytia said in a Facebook post: “This is a post I hoped to never make, last night one of the fighters in our event Isaac Johnson collapsed towards end of his fight.
“Medical attention was given by medical staff on hand and he was transported to hospital. I was then informed at around 1.30am this morning that he didn’t make it.
“I don’t have the words to express how I feel right now, all I can say is my deepest condolences to his family, friends, and teammates. We will know more as the medical report is released.”
Tributes quickly appeared online, with one user writing: “Didn’t know the guy but seen how he had a radiant smile, even moments before falling he smiled, this is the game we play, the man was a true warrior to the very end.”
Another added: “My thoughts and condolences. Something we never want to hear or experience.”
Johnson was a Chicago resident who had also been pursuing a music career.
An autopsy on Saturday did not determine a cause or manner of death, with further investigation pending.
It comes after former UFC fighter Suman Mokhtarian died at age 33 last month.
Local reports said he was shot while walking in Sydney, with The Daily Telegraph reporting he was hit in the upper torso near Annaluke Street and Riverbrae Avenue in Riverstone.
Paramedics tried to save him, but the fighter tragically died at the scene.
Riverstone Police area commander Jason Joyce said at the time: “We believe he may have been out for a walk, but we’re yet to confirm that.
“You’d want to think that in a residential area like that, people could wander the streets at that time of night and be safe, but we do believe it’s a targeted attack.”
He added: “It would’ve been a horrific thing to witness and it’s certainly not something we tolerate in the community.”
Mokhtarian was previously believed to be the intended target of a shooting at the Australian Top Team gym last February.
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He survived and later called off a planned MMA event over concerns about another attack.
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Johnson had also been pursuing a career in music
Tributes have been since pouring online after the MMA star’s tragic deathCredit: Facebook
