UFC fighter Felipe “Cabocão” Colares tragically passed away in Guaratiba after he was hit by a bus on Monday morning. He was 29.
His trainer Rodrigo Babi told news outlet Combate that the Brazilian fighter was returning home from Avenida das Américas in Guaratiba when he was struck by a bus. He died while being transported to the nearby Rocha Faria Hospital. He leaves behind his wife Jacqueline and their 10-month-old son Rhavi.
During the six times he fought in UFC between 2019 and 2022, he recorded a 2-4 record in that time. The former Jungle Fight featherweight champion also improved to 11-4 in MMA following a victory over Alioune Nahaye in February.
In addition to professional fighting, Colares was an advocate for women’s self-defense and even helped create a government program known as Empoderadas, in order to raise awareness of violence against women and teach self-defense.
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In a post published by the program’s official Instagram, they penned a tribute to the founder recognizing him for his hard work and dedication. The caption read, “Felipe made a tremendous contribution with his experience as a multi-champion athlete helping us develop techniques to prevent and cope with violence against women,”
Felipe Colares uses Brazilian jiu-jitsu to stop an alleged robbery in the streets of Brazil
Alongside his valiant cause, Colares was widely known by the public after he stopped an alleged phone robbery with his Brazilian jiu-jitsu skills.
On social media, the fighter said he witnessed an “alleged assault to a woman” leaving the gym at Recreio dos Bandeirantes beach and then held the supposed thief down until police were able to arrive at the scene.
“I went back to my car and went to the woman to check the situation, and indeed it was a robbery,” Colares said at the time, reflecting on the incident he just witnessed. “My friends and I went back to the car and saw the man. After noticing he was unarmed, we intervened and managed to pin the robber using jiu-jitsu techniques.”
Following his death, USA Today reporter Nolan King recognized Colares for his courage and kindness and even shared a video of the professional fighter intertwining during the robbery. King tweeted, “Rest in peace, Felipe Colares. Fight clips are cool, but here he is stopping an alleged phone thief on the streets in Rio.”
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