Kimo Dead: Former UFC Star Kimo Leopoldo Dies at 41

by Jon Azpiri | July 21, 2009 at 09:32 am

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Former UFC star Kimo Leopoldo has reportedly died from a heart attack at the age of 41.

Kimo Leopoldo was one of the UFC's early stars, having competed first at UFC 3 in 1994. Despite racking up a relatively modest 10-7-1 record during his career, the heavily tattooed native of Hawaii was one of the sport's most recognizable faces thanks in large part to his toughness and his penchant for strange religious displays. He had the word "Jesus" tattooed across his stomach and once carried a life-size cross into the ring for his UFC 3 bout with Royce Gracie.

Kimo fought Gracie, who was then seen as unstoppable, so hard that Gracie was forced to withdraw from his next bout due to exhaustion.

During his career, Kimo Leopoldo often noted that he lacked traditional martial arts training. He referred to himself as a “freestyle fighter,” claiming that he learned to fight while working as a henchman for a drug dealer.

Update: It has now been confirmed that Kimo Leopoldo is not dead.