(CNN) — Fighter Joao Carvalho has died in hospital after suffering head injuries during a mixed martial arts (MMA) bout in Dublin, Ireland.
The 28-year-old complained of feeling unwell after Saturday’s fight against Irishman Charlie Ward was stopped by the referee in the third round.
The Portuguese welterweight, who fought for Team Nobrega, was taken to hospital and had emergency brain surgery that night but died on Monday evening after 48 hours in intensive care.
A statement from Total Extreme Fighting (TEF), which staged the event at Dublin’s National Stadium, confirmed Carvalho’s death.
“We extend our most sincere condolences to the family of Joao Carvalho, and to his teammates in Team Nobrega,” TEF chief executive Cesar Silva said.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with them. We’d also like to thank all sports fans for their concern and support.”
The statement said TEF would “give whatever support we can to Joao’s family.”
Team Nobrega, where Carvalho had been all his career, said it was “saddened and dismayed” about the death.
It stressed that “all safety regulations were observed” in Dublin and said Carvalho had become ill around 20 minutes after the end of the fight.
He “was immediately helped by the medical team” at the stadium before being transferred to hospital.
The-CNN-Wire
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