After fighter's death, officials cancel Shooto Brazil 43

After a fighter’s death mere hours before the event’s official weigh-ins, officials today canceled Shooto Brazil 43.

Andre Pederneiras, Shooto’s president and a veteran trainer/manager, made the announcement via Facebook in the early-morning hours.

Shooto Brazil 43, the latest offering from the Brazilian fight promotion, was slated to take place tonight in Rio de Janeiro.

However, as MMAjunkie.com recently reported, 26-year-old Leandro “Feijao” Souza died Thursday, apparently during his weight-cutting process for the late-notice bout. Souza (5-5), a Nova Uniao member, was slated to fight fellow flyweight Gabriel Brasil (1-1) at the event. Officials haven’t announced if it’ll be rescheduled.

It was an understandable decision after a rare and shocking death in MMA.

As Pederneiras wrote on Thursday: “The athlete passed away at the emergency unit in Botafogo. The reasons are not yet known to us. We would like to express our condolences to all friends and family.”

Today, he wrote that the cancellation is a “sign of mourning” for Souza.

(Pictured: Andre Pederneiras)