- Former grappling champion Orlando Sanchez passed away at age 40
- Sanchez last made headlines for having an infamous altercation with Sean Strickland
After making headlines last year for engaging in heated sparring session with UFC middleweight contender Sean Strickland, Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Orlando Sanchez has died at age 40, according to Flograppling.
A grappling champion passed away
According to the report, Sanchez passed away on the night of Dec. 15. Sanchez, though some may not know, was the 2015 ADCC (Abu Dhabi Combat Club) +99kg champion and Brazilian National champion. But more than anything else, he was also a father of three.
In the grappling world, Sanchez was known for his evidently massive physique, incredible strength and strong character. Outside sports, the grappling champ was also an advocate of mental health awareness.
The infamous squabble with Sean
In June last year, Sanchez generated quite a buzz in the MMA world following an intense sparring session with Strickland. The video has gone viral for a short period of time and in it, “Tarzan” could be seen complaining about an alleged “dirty move.”
Strickland and Sanchez ended up having a verbal exchange inside the cage but fortunately, things did not escalate. It is said that the two wound up training together again, suggesting that “Tarzan” had already let the petty feud slide.
Strickland may not be Sanchez’s best friend in his training camp, but it’s safe to say he wasn’t happy about his training partner’s untimely passing.
