Orlando Sanchez aka The Big O has left for the heavenly abode. The shocking news of the BJJ Legend, or the Cuban Tree Stump’s death was confirmed on December 16, 2022, Friday.
Sanchez passed away at the age of 40. It has reported that the American-born jiu-jitsu black belt died unexpectedly. Continue reading further to know the cause behind the death of the jiu-jitsu fighter.
What was the cause behind the death of Orlando Sanchez?
The heartbreaking news of Orlando Sanchez’s death was confirmed by his friends and colleagues who had worked with him over the years. The ADCC champion passed away at the age of 40.
As per a report by Flograppling, the jiu-jitsu fighter unexpectedly died on the night of December 15, 2022. More details like the exact cause behind his death have not been revealed publicly till now. He is survived by his wife and three children.
Here’s everything you need to know about Orlando Sanchez
For those of you who are unaware, let us share with you, Orlando Sanchez was an American-born jiu-jitsu black belt. Back in the day, he trained under José “Zé Radiola” Olímpio.
Over time, Orlando was able to establish his name in the world of jiu-jitsu as he competed with others. His achievements didn’t stop there as he went on to win an ADCC World title in the year 2015.
His ADCC win helped him to become one of the most famous people in the ultra-heavyweights category. According to the media outlet, jiu-jitsu helped Orlando overcome his drug dependence.
Orlando’s sheer dedication to the sport allowed him to earn a black belt in four years. Since that point in time, he had been quite active on social media as well. He used to share his journey with his fans on the social media platform Instagram.
Sanchez had 74k followers on Instagram. His Insta bio read, “ADCC WORLD CHAMPION : IBJJF WORLD CHAMPION : 3xPAN AM CHAMPION DOUBLE GOLD BRAZILIAN NATIONAL CHAMP : UNDEFEATED PRO MMA FIGHTER : CHAMPIONS IN LIFE®.”
His last post on Instagram was dedicated to his wife and three kids. He posted a snap of the family of five. “GRATEFUL TO RAISE SUCH SMART TOUGH BAD ASS KIDS WITH MY QUEEN @trishasanchez890 :: NO LAMES :: #YKTFV :: 5 YEAR OLD FLIPS OFF EVERYONE AND THE 10 YEAR OLD IS NOT ON THE @liverking PROGRAM :: 😂 💪🏽,” he wrote in the caption of the post.
How did the fans react to the demise of Orlando Sanchez?
The news of Orlando’s death came like a shock to everyone. The fans of the ADCC champion couldn’t believe what just happened. They were quick to express their condolences on Twitter.
One social media user wrote, “RIP Orlando Sanchez! You were always entertaining on the mats and you always brought the fight. I was lucky enough to meet you, and you were a very gracious badass. Gone way too soon….”
RIP Orlando Sanchez! You were always entertaining on the mats and you always brought the fight. I was lucky enough to meet you, and you were a very gracious badass. Gone way too soon….
— Cameron Atkinson (@camlatkinson) December 17, 2022
A second one chimed in, “Sad to hear the news of Orlando Sanchez’s passing. Never got a chance to meet him but always enjoyed watching him compete. RIP LEGEND!”
Sad to hear the news of Orlando Sanchez's passing. Never got a chance to meet him but always enjoyed watching him compete.
RIP LEGEND!— Jiu-Jitsu Radio (@KaraJitsu) December 16, 2022
Followed by a user who penned, “Wow! Deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Orlando Sanchez. One of the most polarizing figures in our sport. Someone I truly looked up to in the world of BJJ. This one hurts. A true legend of the Gracie Barra team.”
Wow! Deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Orlando Sanchez. One of the most polarizing figures in our sport. Someone I truly looked up to in the world of BJJ. This one hurts. A true legend of the Gracie Barra team.
— Isaiah – Fly Eagles Fly (11-1) (@iduran__) December 16, 2022
Sending love and light to the friends and family members of Orlando Sanchez during this difficult time. May his soul rest in peace. Don’t forget to stay tuned with us for the latest updates from the world of entertainment.
