Elias Theodorou was a Canadian MMA fighter who rose to prominence when he won ‘The Ultimate Fighter Nations: Canada vs. Australia” in 2014. He competed in the UFC’s middleweight division and was ranked no. 13 until he parted ways with the promotion. Theodorou also held notable wins in the promotion over Eryk Anders and Sam Alvey.

Sadly, Theodorou passed away in 2022 due to complications arising from a cancer diagnosis. At the recent UFC Fight Night event in Texas, the promotion honored his legacy by playing a memorial video. Let’s take a look at the life and career of the fighter whose time was tragically cut short.

Elias Theodorou passed away from cancer in 2022

Elias Theodorou or ‘The Spartan’ as he was known fought in the UFC from 2014 to 2019. The Canadian was known for his incredible hair causing fans to dub him, “the owner of the best hair in MMA”!  Theodorou was also notable for being the first athlete to receive a therapeutic use exemption for cannabis in MMA and possibly, in other sports as well.

According to reports available online, Theodorou suffered from bilateral neuropathy. A condition that causes painful sensations in the fighter’s hands and arms. He received the exemption to use cannabis to treat his condition after a lengthy and hard-fought legal battle.

Eventually, Theodorou was allowed to use cannabis to treat his condition by the British Columbia Athletic Commission and an equivalent body in Colorado, well.

Theodorou passed away on September 11th, 2022. He was suffering from colon cancer that had metastasized to his liver. The fighter had been suffering from the disease for a while but the details surrounding his illness were kept away from the public until the time of his death.

His passing was mourned by fans and fighters alike but alongside his work for medical marijuana advocacy for fighters, Theodorou also broke new ground as a ‘ringboy’ for Invicta FC!

Theodorou broke barriers with his appearance at Invicta FC as a ‘ring boy’

UFC middleweight Elias Theodorou shattered norms by becoming the first male “ring boy” at Invicta FC 28. His debut marked a groundbreaking moment, challenging gender stereotypes associated with cage-side presentations. The Canadian fighter embraced the role, working alongside traditional ring girls to resounding applause.

Invicta FC president Shannon Knapp initially had reservations about introducing a ring boy. However, Theodorou’s infectious enthusiasm and positive perspective convinced her otherwise.

Knapp acknowledged Theodorou’s commitment, and stated, “But he’s taken it very serious. He’s very excited about it, and he wants to be with the company longterm, not just for this event. It’ll be interesting to see how the fans react to it.”

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The move to include a ring boy was aimed at dispelling outdated perceptions about gender roles in combat sports. The response from fans was largely positive and Theodorou’s debut in his new role signaled a shift toward inclusivity and challenging preconceived notions in the world of combat sports.

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