What you need to know
A mixed martial artist has died from injuries sustained during a match in Chicago, according to multiple reports. He was 31 years old.
Isaac Johnson went down with an injury during the third and final round of his bout with Mario Alexandrovski at Matador Fighter Challenge at Cicero Stadium on Friday, Nov. 21, NBC 5 Chicago and FOX 5 Washington, DC reported.
An ambulance was called at 8:38 p.m. local time to transport the “injured combatant” to the hospital, a town spokesperson told NBC5 Chicago. Johnson later died at 12:01 a.m. at Loyola University Medical Center, the report said.
According to reports, this was Johnson’s first boxing match in Thailand.
According to reports, the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office (CCMEO) said an autopsy was scheduled to determine the cause of death.
Isaac T. Johnson/Facebook
According to its website, the Matador Fighter Challenge is described as “an action-packed showdown that brings local fighters to the ultimate mixed martial arts and Thailand event as they battle it out in high-stakes matches.”
According to Fox 5 Washington, D.C., the event’s promoter Joe Goitia said Johnson passed the state-required physical exam before the fight.
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“This is a post I never wanted to make,” Goitia wrote on Facebook after Johnson’s death. “Last night, one of the fighters who attended our event, Isaac Johnson, collapsed at the end of his fight. He was treated by our resident medical staff and transported to the hospital. We were then informed at approximately 1:30 a.m. this morning that he did not make it.”
“There are no words to express how I feel right now. All I can say is my heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and teammates. We will know more once the medical report is released,” he added.
The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) is investigating the incident, Fox 5 Washington, DC reported.
PEOPLE has reached out to CCMEO and IDFPR for comment.
