{"id":301294,"date":"2025-11-23T07:53:27","date_gmt":"2025-11-23T07:53:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/301294\/"},"modified":"2025-11-23T07:53:27","modified_gmt":"2025-11-23T07:53:27","slug":"horror-as-mma-fighter-31-dies-after-collapsing-during-fight-in-chicago","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/301294\/","title":{"rendered":"Horror as MMA fighter, 31, dies after collapsing during fight in Chicago"},"content":{"rendered":"

By JACK BEZANTS, US DEPUTY SPORTS EDITOR<\/a> <\/p>\n

Published: 19:09 EST, 22 November 2025 | Updated: 19:45 EST, 22 November 2025 <\/p>\n

An MMA fighter has died at 31 years old, hours after collapsing during a fight in Chicago on Friday night.<\/p>\n

Isaac Johnson had been competing at the Matador Fighter Challenge at Cicero Stadium and was hospitalized at around 8:38pm, according to NBC Chicago.<\/p>\n

He was pronounced dead at 12:01am, the report adds, with police now conducting a death investigation and an autopsy scheduled.<\/p>\n

Joe Goyita, the event’s promoter, wrote in an emotional Facebook<\/a> statement: ‘This is a post I hoped to never make.\u00a0Last night one of the fighters in our event, Isaac Johnson, collapsed towards the end of his fight.<\/p>\n

‘Medical attention was given by medical staff on hand and he was transported to hospital. I was then informed at around 130 am this morning that he didn’t make it.<\/p>\n

‘I don’t have the words to express how I feel right now, all I can say is my deepest condolences to his family, friends, and teammates. We will know more as the medical report is released.’<\/p>\n

\"MMA <\/p>\n

MMA fighter Isaac Johnson has died after collapsing during a fight staged in Chicago<\/p>\n

\"Johnson <\/p>\n

Johnson was billed to be competing in the Matador Fighter Challenge in Chicago on Friday\u00a0<\/p>\n

According to the Matador Fighter Challenge website, Johnson was scheduled to be fighting Corey Newell in a Heavyweight Thai fight.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Away from fighting, Johnson was pursuing a music career in Chicago.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Tributes poured in for Johnson, with one friend of his posting on Facebook: ‘This so sad!!! I’m so tired of seeing this! We were just talking about all your future endeavors, boundaries, religion. You had a plan, a good head on your shoulders! Insane!!’<\/p>\n

Another emotional tribute read: ‘What a horrible situation that unfolded last night. You never want anything like this.<\/p>\n

‘On behalf of my famiy and everybody at Chicago Fight Team we want to send our sincere condolences to Isaac Johnson and his family.’\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Matador Fighter Challenge website billed Friday’s event as ‘the ultimate MMA and Thai event, where local warriors will battle it out in high-stakes, high-intensity matches.’<\/p>\n

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