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Didn’t he compete at ADCC back in September?
I never really knew much about him until I saw the Strickland video where he tried to hyperextend Strickland’s elbow right before his fight. That being said 40 is young and there’s three young kids in that picture. That’s a real shitty thing especially right before Christmas.
- I just took another look at that picture and the little kid on his shoulders is flipping the bird. That’s pretty fucking funny
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I’m not glad the guy is dead, but he was a dirtbag according to many.
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The La Canada, California branch of the Gracie Barra gym has confirmed that Orlando Sanchez passed away on Thursday night.
The popular Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitor won the ADCC World Championship in 2015, the IBJJF World Championship in 2010, the IBJFF Pans Championship in 2012, and the CBJJ Brazilian Nationals in 2012. Sanchez competed in the Peso Pesadissimo (super heavyweight) weight class.
Gracie Barra took to Instagram to announce the sad news:
“The news of the passing of Professor Orlando Sanchez profoundly saddens us. Thank you for being a great friend and one of our greatest athletes. You leave a legacy of toughness, kindness, and loyalty through your efforts as a competitor, professor, school owner, and regional leader. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with others and spreading the Jiu-Jitsu legacy worldwide. Rest in peace, Professor Orlando Sanchez. We will always remember you.”
The BJJ star is survived by his wife and three children.
BJJ Changed Orlando Sanchez’s Life
Before discovering BJJ, Orlando Sanchez was a college football player at Azusa Pacific University. During this time, Sanchez got into a partying lifestyle and began using drugs and consuming copious amounts of alcohol. His move into BJJ in his 20s helped him move past these issues and back into more athletically focused living.
Orlando Sanchez’s strength and power on the mats carried him to a brown belt a mere three years into his training. BJJ is notoriously difficult to progress in, but Sanchez showed a prodigious aptitude for the sport.
More recently, Sanchez made the news due to a dust-up with UFC middleweight Sean Strickland in June 2021. The pair were training together when Strickland took exception to Sanchez attempting to apply a standing armbar. Furious, “Tarzan” struck Sanchez with a chop and kick.
Interestingly, Sanchez himself also competed in MMA for a time, amassing a 5-0-1 record from 2010-2015. He was one of former UFC Heavyweight Champion Fabricio Werdum’s main training partners during this time as well.
Orlando Sanchez was 40 years old at the time of his passing.
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What isn’t listed in that article is that APU is a Christian college and very well known. You have to have an application with your faith confirmed to attend there.
Crazy how this story unfolds.
Apparently this dude loved to preach about sobriety but could never keep clean himself.
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I don’t understand all of the RIPs this guy is getting. I don’t want to sound like a hater, but this guy was a huge piece of crap and a terrible competitor.
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I think a lot of it is merely obligatory.
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Whether you live in peace or not you deserve to rest in peace.
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He was also an ADCC champion.
Not saying he wasn’t a dirt bag too, but anytime someone passes a lot of people will remember their high points. It’s natural
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Interesting Strickland was training with him after this on a regular basis. Since he’s against grooming and likes to call them out publicly. Wonder if ye knew.
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Sometimes it’s alright to show respect when unfortunate situations take place - 40 is young.
Rest easy.
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MGIM, i understand what you are saying but the less bad energy you can carry around the better… most of the time it seems impossible but when you get older you will sit back and say " i hope my ex girlfriend is doing alright… " even if she did you dirty! Ill tell you a wonderful thing Mark Twain said… “anger is a poison that does more damage to the vessel carrying it than anything it gets thrown on.” Not to get deep buddy, im a total idiot, but im almost 44 years old and im starting to figure stuff out… RIP Orlando Sanchez, even if you were a faggit
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Revenge requires you to dig two graves.
Forgiveness is for giving back what wasn’t yours to carry.
I don’t condone anything he allegedly did. I also don’t think I need to shame him when his kids and wife deserve to mourn in peace.
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Very well said
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Damn
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