ONE Championship fighter Iuri Lapicus dies in tragic motorcycle accident

The mixed martial arts world lost one of its most promising stars following the tragic passing of ONE Championship fighter Iuri Lapicus.

The 27-year-old died Monday, March 20, after suffering from serious injuries he sustained in a motorcycle accident late last week.

ONE Championship announced the sad news on its official website.

The promotion also released a statement regarding the star’s untimely passing:

“The ONE Championship team is heartbroken over the tragic passing of Iuri Lapicus. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his loved ones at this difficult time.”

According to Italian outlet Milano Today, Lapicus was in a coma before passing away.

Lapicus was one of the most exciting fighters in ONE Championship and ran through the competition in his start in the promotion. His relentless style also made him among the fan favorites in the organization.

Combining an explosive Muay Thai game with a technical Brazilian jiu-jitsu approach on the ground, the Moldovan star easily made a name as a fearsome contender in the stacked lightweight division.

Lapicus scored submission wins over Shannon Wiratchai and former ONE featherweight world champion Marat Gafurov to set up his world title challenge against ONE lightweight world champion Christian Lee back in October 2020.

Despite losing his world title bid against Lee at ONE: Inside The Matrix, Iuri Lapicus was still seen as a big threat in ONE Championship’s 170-pound division.

Lapicus matched up against MMA legend Eddie Alvarez in April 2021 before taking part in his last fight inside the circle against former ONE welterweight world champion Zebaztian Kadestam in August 2022.