Last night, Flograppling confirmed that ADCC Champion and Gracie Barra black belt Orlando Sanchez had passed away. He was aged 40 years old at the time and leaves behind a wife and three kids. As of right now, it is not yet known what caused his death but apparently he passed peacefully during his sleep.
Sanchez was best known for winning the 2015 ADCC gold medal, as well as getting a silver two years later. It was under the ADCC ruleset where he excelled and the infamous picture of him pulling a face with a bloody bandage on his head was born. He also enjoyed a successful spell in MMA where he went 4-0. Due to his small and sturdy posture, he was also awarded the nickname ‘The Cuban Treestump’ which also paid homage to his home country.
Outside of the mats, Sanchez was also known to be a colorful character. He lived on a ranch with horses, hung out with bikers, and drove sports cars, which was due to successful business ventures, such as owning a few Gracie Barra affiliate gyms.
Unfortunately, though, his life was not always easy. Over the years, Sanchez had opened up about his mental health and addiction struggles – as well as his weight gain. Nonetheless, it’s fair to say that Orlando Sanchez made Brazilian Jiu Jitsu a more exciting place and his presence will be missed by many.
