Conor McGregor: MMA death ‘a truly bitter pill to swallow’
“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... I was ringside supporting my team-mate, and the fight was so back and forth, that I just can’t understand it,” said McGregor on Facebook.
“It is such a rare occurrence, that I don’t know how to take this. 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.”
Carvalho died on Monday night from injuries sustained in a fight against Charlie Ward at the Total Extreme Fighting 1 event at the National Stadium last Saturday. He had been in a critical condition for 48 hours at Beaumont Hospital before he died.
In another Facebook post, Carvalho’s trainer, Vitor Nobrega underlined that all safety rules had been met at the event.
Speaking to MMA Connect TV after the fight and before Carvalho’s death, McGregor said he felt the fight could have been stopped earlier.
“It was a hell of a fight. Your man [Carvalho] took some big, big shots. I thought it could have been stopped maybe earlier.”
Event organisers Total Extreme Fighting said the fighter was assessed by doctors and medical personnel at the event.
The world governing body of MMA and its Irish arm are investigating the circumstances of the death. Gardaí are also investigating it as a sudden-death incident and will prepare a file for the Coroner’s Court.
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