UFC Veteran, ‘TUF: Nations’ Winner Elias Theodorou Dead from Cancer at 34

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship competitor Elias Theodorou has died from cancer at 34 years old.

According to TSN, Theodorou had been battling Stage 4 liver cancer, but only a few people were aware of his diagnosis. BJPenn.com was first to report Theodorou’s passing.

A native of Ontario, Canada, Theodorou rose to prominence by winning “The Ultimate Fighter: Nations.” He would go on to compile an 8-3 mark in the UFC before his suprising release from the Las Vegas-based promotion following a loss to Derek Brunson in 2019. His Octagon record included wins over the likes of Cezar Ferreira, Sam Alvey and Eryk Anders, among others. He would go 3-0 outside the UFC, with his last victory coming against Bryan Baker at Colorado Combat Club 10 in December 2021.

Theodorou was a well-known advocate for medical cannabis and became the first professional athlete to receive a therapeutic use exemption for it in January 2020. “The Spartan” also served as a “ring boy” for all-female organization Invicta FC in 2018.