Isaac Johnson has passed away at the age of 31. The Muay Thai fighter was reportedly rushed to the hospital after competing at the Matador Fighter Challenge in Cicero, Illinois, just outside of Chicago. Johnson had reportedly suffered some injuries during his bout with Mari Aleksandrovski.
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Joe Goytia, the event's promoter, stressed that Johnson had passed all the mandatory medical exams before being allowed to compete. Goytia also posted a heartfelt message to his Facebook page.
"This is a post I hoped to never make,"
Goytia wrote. "Last night, one of the fighters in our event, Isaac Johnson, collapsed towards the end of his fight. Medical attention was given by medical staff on hand, and he was transported to the hospital. I was then informed at around 130 am this morning that he didn't make it. 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."Johnson was fighting in the heavyweight division for his matchup. The Cicero police are currently investigating his passing and will be awaiting a full autopsy report.
What Is Muay Thai, and Was Isaac Johnson at Risk?
Muay Thai has rapidly grown in popularity since the turn of the century. The "Art of Eight Limbs" is a Thai version of kickboxing. It incorporates elbows, knees, punches and kicks, with the Thai roundhouse kick viewed as one of the most powerful, efficient and dangerous in the world.
According to People, this was Johnson's first Muay Thai bout. Nevertheless, he would have undergone significant training before stepping into the ring. Coaches seldom let inexperienced fighters sign up for full-contact bouts. His fight camp would have provided him with a game plan going into the event, too. Still, all full-contact fights carry an inherent level of risk.
Unfortunately, those risks are real. In March of this year, a 30-year-old British man died after competing at the Samui International Muay Thai Stadium in Koh Samui. Martial Arts fights are commonplace around the world.
Still, whenever a fighter passes away, it hits the martial arts community hard. There will likely be a review of the rules, regulations and stipulations at future events in Chicago and around the US, as everyone tries to avoid such tragic circumstances arising again.
