Conor McGregor was Ringside, Issues Statement on MMA Fighter’s Death

Portuguese welterweight Joao Carvalho tragically passed away on Monday night at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, Ireland, after a TKO loss to Charlie Ward at the Total Extreme Fighting (TEF) Championship at the National Boxing Stadium on Saturday.

RELATED > MMA Fighter Joao Carvalho Dies After TKO Loss in Dublin, Promotion Issues Statement

UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor was ringside the night of the fight in support of his teammate. McGregor posted the following statement about the fight and Carvalho’s passing on his Facebook page on Tuesday:

“Terrible news regarding Joao Carvalho.

“To see a young man doing what he loves, competing for a chance at a better life, and then to have it taken away is truly heartbreaking. We are just men and women doing something we love in the hope of a better life for ourselves and our families. Nobody involved in combat sports of any kind wants to see this. It is such a rare occurrence that I don’t know how to take this.

“I was ringside supporting my teammate, and the fight was so back and forth, that I just can’t understand it.

“My condolences go out to Joao’s family and his team. Their man was a hell of a fighter and will be sorely missed by all.

“Combat sport is a crazy game and with the recent incident in boxing and now this in MMA, it is a sad time to be a fighter and a fight fan. It is easy for those on the outside to criticise our way of living, but for the millions of people around the world who have had their lives, their health, their fitness and their mental strength all changed for the better through combat, this is truly a bitter pill to swallow. We have lost one of us.

“I hope we remember Joao as a champion, who pursued his dream doing what he loved, and show him the eternal respect and admiration he deserves.

“Rest in peace, Joao.”

João Carvalho was 28 years of age.

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