MMA fighter Joao Carvalho passes away after Conor McGregor said fight against teammate should have been stopped earlier

Awful news has struck the MMA community.

Portuguese MMA fighter Joao Carvalho has reportedly passed away after being hospitalized immediately after a fight against Charlie Ward, a teammate of UFC featherweight champion Conor McGregor.

Carvalho and Ward fought at the TEF 1 event, which took place at the National Stadium in Dublin on Saturday night.

Carvalho’s camp Nobrega Team released a statement on their Facebook page early Tuesday morning (translated via Facebook).

TRANSLATION
Death note
The Nobrega team this way comes to confirm the passing of your athlete joao carvalho, which occurred last night in the hospital Beaumont, in Dublin, for 21:35 hours. It is with great sorrow and sadness that we write these words, that the death of the athlete joão carvalho happened after 48 hours in critical condition.
During the event-Tef MMA, which took place on Saturday, at the National Boxing Stadium in Dublin, where they were complied with all the safety rules, and after a fight where the arbitration followed all the correct procedures and regulars, the athlete john “Mutt” Oak Did you feel bad, about 20 minutes after the end of the fight.
Still on the site was immediately assisted by the medical team this, and then quickly transported to the hospital Beaumont, where she was subjected to a brain surgical intervention, after which the athlete remained in critical condition during the 48 hours following, eventually passed away on this Monday the 21:35 hours.
Despite the continued monitoring doctor who was part of the organisation of the event and the hospital, the Irish who we appreciate all the support in these difficult times, and although they are known the risks of this sport, the passing of John Carvalho in my professional point of view was A great deal of misery, which makes it deeply saddened and dismayed, both your family, as the whole team nóbrega team, who always accompanied the joão carvalho throughout his career, in which he was highlighting the national and international level.
It is with great regret that we offer our heartfelt condolences to the families and the whole team nobrega team.
Vitor Nóbrega

Nota falecimento
A Nobrega Team vem desta forma confirmar o falecimento do seu atleta Joao Carvalho, que ocorreu ontem à noite no Hospital Beaumont, em Dublin, pelas 21:35 horas. É com grande consternação e tristeza que escrevemos estas palavras, informando que o óbito do atleta João Carvalho aconteceu depois de 48 horas em estado crítico.
Durante o evento TEF-MMA, que decorreu no sábado, no National Boxing Stadium em Dublin, onde foram cumpridas todas as regras de segurança, e após um combate onde a arbitragem seguiu todos os procedimentos corretos e habituais, o atleta João “Rafeiro” Carvalho sentiu-se mal, cerca de 20 minutos depois do final do combate.
Ainda no local foi imediatamente assistido pela equipa médica presente, sendo depois transportado rapidamente para o Hospital Beaumont, onde foi submetido a uma intervenção cirúrgica cerebral, após a qual o atleta permaneceu em estado crítico durante as 48 horas seguintes, acabando por falecer nesta segunda-feira as 21:35 horas.
Apesar do permanente acompanhamento médico que teve por parte da organização do evento e do hospital irlandês, a quem agradecemos todo o apoio prestado nestes momentos difíceis, e embora sejam conhecidos os riscos deste desporto, o falecimento de João Carvalho no meu ponto de vista profissional foi uma enorme infelicidade, que deixa profundamente tristes e consternados, tanto a sua família, como toda a equipa Nóbrega Team, que sempre acompanharam o João Carvalho ao longo da sua carreira, em que ele se vinha destacando a nível nacional e internacional.
É pois com muito pesar que apresentamos as nossas sinceras condolências à famíli e a toda a equipa Nobrega Team.
Vitor Nóbrega

After the fights were over and prior to the announcement of Carvalho’s passing, Conor McGregor said in an interview with MMA Connect TV that he thought the fight could have been stopped before the 3rd round TKO stoppage that had Ward’s hand raised.

Thoughts are with the family of Joao Carvalho and Team Nobrega.