After five years of hard battle against leukemia the Brazilian Vale-Tudo fighter, Magno Penha, died last Tuesday (January 11). Born in Maranhao state, Magno showed to the world the meaning of the world, WARRIOR. He first felt the symptoms of Leukemia in the ring, fighting in Ultimate Combat on July 2000. 'I couldn't understand why but I could not breath well and got weak like a child', said the fighter few months latter in a report published by Tatame Magazine. After receiving the hard punishment from the American John Mokiao in the first few seconds, Magno found strength somewhere and submitted the opponent with an arm lock from the guard. The Brazilian left the ring unconscious with oxygen support and after a hard trip back to Brazil heard the doctors saying that his leukemia was in advanced state with few chances of survival. Once again Penha didn't gave up and after win many battles against 4 chemotherapy sessions and one coma got the doctors of Rio de Janeiro Institute of Cancer in amazed again. 'After everything I passed thru face Mark Kerr wouldn't be a problem for me. My life is fight I'll return to the ring', said a happy Penha after leave the hospital searching for a marrow donator. Even without being able to find a compatible donor, the Brazilian warrior kept his word returning to the rings on 2003 at K-1 Brazil new stars, when he was defeated by Carlos Santos by TKO. Last month Magno started to feel the symptoms of Leukemia. This time, unfortunately, his brave heart and unbelievable warrior spirit was not enough.
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tatame.com.br