On Saturday during UFC Austin, the promotion shared several video packages of people in the MMA community affected by cancer. One of those packages was to honor former UFC fighter Elias Theodorou, who died of colon cancer.
The nearly six minute video featured friends and family speaking about Theodorou and his battle with cancer, which he never went public with during his lifetime.
In memory of Elias Theodorou ❤️
— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) December 2, 2023
[ To learn how you can help, please visit https://t.co/NDxUuBTmUN. 100% of direct donations go to cancer research ] pic.twitter.com/E1iTjK8v8O
The fans on Twitter, many who interacted with Theodorou shared their thoughts on the tribute.
Elias Theodorou Tribute.
— NorthernEffect (@northerneffect) December 2, 2023
Thank You.
#UFCAustin #FuckCancer
Really nice way to honour @EliasTheodorou by the UFC
— typicalciteh (@manciteh22) December 2, 2023
Great ambassador for MMA#UFCAustin
That tribute to Elias Theodorou on the broadcast was beautiful. Kinda pissed me off cause now I'm really struggling not to cry #UFCAustin
— FIGHT GUY (@FightingPetah) December 2, 2023
That was a beautiful tribute by the @ufc for @EliasTheodorou He was good Mixed Martial Artist. He was a Phenomenal Human Being !! Forever Missed my man. RIP
— Big John McCarthy (@JohnMcCarthyMMA) December 2, 2023
That @EliasTheodorou tribute destroyed me. Wasn't expecting that. I fucking miss that guy so much, and think about him often.
— Ben Ortmanns (@BigBenIsAngry) December 2, 2023
Thank you for that beautiful tribute, @ufc.
Remembering @EliasTheodorou was an amazing guy... 2016 Ottawa UFC Fight Night pic.twitter.com/aDsYrctBux
— TheKrazy0ne (@MiCTheKrazy0ne) December 2, 2023
Really nice job done by the UFC on that tribute to the late Elias Theodorou with the added touch of having his family in attendance. #UFCAustin
— Marc Raimondi (@marcraimondi) December 2, 2023
Theodorou fought in the UFC until 2019 then became an advocate for cannabis use in sports. He died on September 11, 2022, at the age of 34.