27-Year-Old ONE Championship Title Challenger Dies After Fatal Motorcycle Crash in Italy

Published 03/20/2023, 9:44 AM EDT

Follow Us

Fans of Mixed martial arts are deeply connected with their favorite fighters. From watching them compete in the octagon to following their personal lives on social media, supporters invest a lot of time and emotions in these athletes. So, when news of a fighter’s death comes out, it hits the community hard.

This was the case on March 19th, when reports surfaced of a motorcycle crash in Italy that claimed the life of a former ONE Championship title challenger. The fighter, who was just 27 years old, was riding his motorcycle in Italy when the accident occurred.

One Championship fighter Iuri Lapicus passes away

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

According to the reports, Lapicus lost control of his bike and collided with a car. A helicopter transported the Moldovan to the hospital but unfortunately he perished at the medical facility. Iuri Lapicus was a rising star in the world of MMA. He had a record of 14 wins, just 2 losses, and 1 NC. He had fought in various promotions throughout his career. However, his most notable bout was against former UFC lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez in April 2021.

Trending

Get instantly notified of the hottest stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

Although Lapicus did not win the fight, he had shown his potential as a skilled and talented fighter. Despite Lapicus’s promising career, the accident cut his life tragically short.

Tragic TKO Loss Results in the Death of a 27-Year-Old MMA Fighter With UFC Aspirations

Fans have expressed their condolences on social media. Many fans shared their favorite moments from his fights and expressed their shock and sadness at the news of his passing. The MMA star had a storied fighting career since he made his professional debut in 2013.

More about Lapicus

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Lapicus was born in Moldova and began his martial arts journey with judo before transitioning to MMA. He made his professional debut in 2013 and quickly established himself as a force to be reckoned with.

He joined ONE Championship in 2019 and won his first three fights in the promotion, which earned him a title shot against lightweight champion Christian Lee in Oct 2020.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Watch This StoryConor McGregor Lawsuit Dropped

The MMA community has lost a talented and exciting fighter. The news is especially devastating for Lapicus‘s family, friends, and teammates, who have lost a loved one and a valued member of their community. It’s a tragic reminder of how precious life is and how quickly it can be taken away. Rest in peace, Iuri Lapicus.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :

Written by:

Sushant Sharma

913Articles

One take at a time

Sushant is a UFC writer at EssentiallySports. He has been actively contributing to the field of writing for over 2 years. He is a huge UFC fan and has been following it since 2016.
Show More>

Edited by:

Amal Joyce