Kimo Leopoldo is still alive
Reports on Tuesday of the death of early Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) star Kimo Leopoldo was a big story throughout the mixed-martial-arts world. No one was more surprised by the news, in fact, than Leopoldo himself. He’s alive and well.
I am very happy to report that an earlier story I wrote this morning has turned out be false. Former UFC fighter Kimo Leopoldo is not dead. MMA Junkie wa able to confirm this through the fighter's publicist Bob Trieger.
Numerous media reports, including ones from TMZ, the New York Daily News, Orange County Register, USA Today and the Huffington Post, also reported his death.
"When I saw the sites, it scared me," Leopoldo said.
"I wondered, are they predicting the future or am I cursed?"
It was neither, though it still made for a memorable day.
The Orange County Sheriff's coroner's office received more than 200 phone calls about Leopoldo's purported death starting as early as 7 a.m., spokesman Jim Amormino said. After trying to confirm the reports through local hospitals, county health officials and the fire department, Amormino fielded inquiries until Leopoldo held a news conference at 5 p.m. outside the sheriff's office in Santa Ana.
Before the erroneous reports of his death, Leopoldo was best known for his MMA debut at UFC 3 in 1994, where he fought and lost to Royce Gracie. He ended his career in October 2006, and had been publicly linked to performance-enhancing drugs and banned stimulants because of failed drug tests.
I am very happy to report that an earlier story I wrote this morning has turned out be false. Former UFC fighter Kimo Leopoldo is not dead. MMA Junkie wa able to confirm this through the fighter's publicist Bob Trieger.
Numerous media reports, including ones from TMZ, the New York Daily News, Orange County Register, USA Today and the Huffington Post, also reported his death.
"When I saw the sites, it scared me," Leopoldo said.
"I wondered, are they predicting the future or am I cursed?"
It was neither, though it still made for a memorable day.
The Orange County Sheriff's coroner's office received more than 200 phone calls about Leopoldo's purported death starting as early as 7 a.m., spokesman Jim Amormino said. After trying to confirm the reports through local hospitals, county health officials and the fire department, Amormino fielded inquiries until Leopoldo held a news conference at 5 p.m. outside the sheriff's office in Santa Ana.
Before the erroneous reports of his death, Leopoldo was best known for his MMA debut at UFC 3 in 1994, where he fought and lost to Royce Gracie. He ended his career in October 2006, and had been publicly linked to performance-enhancing drugs and banned stimulants because of failed drug tests.
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