Elias Theodorou also known as ‘The Spartan’ was 34 years old when he passed away from colon cancer on Sept. 11, 2022. His family posted on his twitter account “Elias ‘The Spartan’ Theodorou answered his final bell yesterday, Sep. 11,  2022.  He passed peacefully at home with his family and loved ones in his corner after a hard fought fight with colon cancer that metastasized.”

He was born in Mississauga, Canada on May 31,  1988.  He became an MMA fighter in 2009, after graduating from Humber college in Toronto,  Ontario. Originally he majored in creative advertising, but ended up going into MMA . 

He was the first athlete to use medical marijuana in sports. For years, he had campaigned to use medical marijua also known as medical cannabis. He used it for his wrists, hands and elbows during the time he said that using the cannabis “evened the playing field and fight at a baseline level.” He was approved for using it in February of 2020.

In 2013 he began his UFC career when he did an Australia vs. Canada match, he won against Zein Saliba in the quarterfields and then won against Tyler Manawora in the semifinals. Through the years from 2014-2019 in his time at UFC he’s had 19 wins.  

 According to bloodyelbow in 2019 he was released from UFC at the time he had an 8-3 record, he was also at the top 15 rank. The president of UFC explained that “the UFC wanted to break into the top five or possibly become world champions.”  He had a middleweight title and won eight pro bouts and he also won two more victories with Bruno Santos and Roger Narvez.

He lost a fight with Thinago Santos in 2015. He won a match against Sam Alvey in June 2016, again in 2017 against Cezar Ferreira. He lost again to Brad Taveras but his final time in the Octagon he won against Dan Kelly, Trevor Smith and Eryk Anders. He later ended his career against Hernani Perpetuo, Matt Dweyer and Bryan Baker. 

Elais Theodorou will be missed by all who loved watching him throughout his journey from MMA to UFC.