The mixed martial arts community is in mourning following the tragic death of former UFC fighter Geronimo dos Santos. The Brazilian heavyweight, known by his fight name 'Mondragon', drowned in a river in his homeland at the age of 45.
Search and Tragic Discovery in the Rio Negro
According to local reports, the incident occurred last Friday near Sao Gabriel da Cachoeira. Dos Santos reportedly disappeared after diving into the Rio Negro, a major tributary of the Amazon River. A swift search operation was launched by the Fire Department.
Divers scoured the area for three days before making a grim discovery on Monday morning. Santos' body was found submerged beneath rocks on the riverbed. The municipality of Sao Gabriel da Cachoeira confirmed his passing, expressing "deepest condolences" to his family and friends in an official statement.
A Storied Yet Unfulfilled MMA Career
Geronimo dos Santos enjoyed a long and globe-trotting professional MMA career spanning numerous promotions. He fought across South America, Europe, and Asia for organisations like RIZIN and Mr. Cage. His professional record stood at 45 wins from 72 total fights.
His career reached a pinnacle in 2012 when he signed with the premier UFC promotion. He was scheduled to face Gabriel Gonzaga at UFC 153 in Rio de Janeiro. However, a positive test for Hepatitis B prevented him from being medically cleared to compete, leading to his withdrawal and eventual release from the UFC.
Late Career Resurgence and Future Plans Cut Short
Despite the UFC setback, dos Santos remained active in combat sports. Most recently, he competed in bare-knuckle boxing. In April, he scored a first-round knockout victory over former UFC heavyweight Aleksei Oleinik in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.
This victory had set up a high-profile match against another ex-UFC star, Andrei Arlovski, scheduled for June. However, dos Santos withdrew from that bout prior to his untimely death. His passing cuts short the career of a resilient athlete who remained dedicated to his craft across multiple disciplines for many years.
