11-time World Surfing League Champion Kelly Slater is also a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. In fact, Slater has practiced the art of grappling for decades. In his martial arts journey, he has met some of the biggest legends of combat sports as well. After learning about the sudden passing of a 40-year-old BJJ star, Slater took to social media to pay his respects.

The surfing icon shared a post about the former IBJFF world champion on his Instagram story. Slater praised the BJJ star and joined millions in mourning the submission wrestler’s untimely demise. 

Kelly Slater pays tribute to a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu legend

On December 16, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu star and ADCC submission wrestler Orlando Sanchez passed away at 40. Slater, who is also well known in the BJJ circuit, shared Sanchez’s close friend Donny Max Flowers’ Instagram post. Flowers is also a 2nd-degree Gracie Barra black belt. “Only met him a couple of times, but he was a beast,” Slater wrote about Sanchez. 

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The surfing world champion also described “The Cuban tree stump” as a “legend” and a “cool dude”. “Condolences to his family and close friends,” wrote Slater in his Instagram story. On Friday, Sanchez’s gym confirmed the news of his passing. 

“Thank you for being a great friend and one of our greatest athletes,” reads the post. Gracie Barra Gym addressed Orlando Sanchez as professor Sanchez and wrote about his contribution to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. According to the post, Sanchez wasn’t just a competitor but also a trainer who directly contributed to elevating regional athletes.

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The 40-year-old’s sudden passing has shocked the combat sports world. With the post, Kelly Slater joined millions in paying respect to the 2015 ADCC world champion. 

The combat sports world joined the surfing icon in mourning

Besides millions of fans, prominent combat sports athletes and organizations paid tribute to Orlando Sanchez. UFC middleweight Sean Strickland paid tribute to Sanchez on Instagram. Meanwhile, former UFC welterweight Jake Sheild remembered the late BJJ star on Twitter. BJJ legend Gordon Ryan, Robert Drysdale, and rising superstars Kade and Tye Ruotolo also mourned the 40-year-old’s passing.

The official ADCC submission wrestling Instagram page, Gracie Magazine’s official page, and others posted about Sanchez’s tragic death. Countless fans have commented on these social media posts.

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On this sad day, millions have paid their respects to Orlando Sanchez. History will not forget him easily.