Kimo Leopoldo: Alive

by Kid Nate on Jul 21, 2009 7:22 PM EDT in MMA News

Ufc43event_205_medium The story has been bubbling all day. It started last night on the UG with this post by by Reggie Warren Sr:

Greg Wilson of Newport BJJ Academy just called to give me the terrible news

BJJ Black Belt and UFC, Pride, K-1, Shoot Box, and WFA veteran Kimo Leopaldo died from complications from a heart attack earlier tonight at St Fancis Hospital in Costa Rica

He was 41 years old and a good friend and instructor to Greg.

BloodyElbow member ANance was one of the earliest to pick up the story. From there it was wild fire. The NY Daily News reported it as fact. Examiner.com reported it as fact.

All day I held off reporting since all we had was rumor and unconfirmed speculation.

Kevin Iole was working on the story and tweeting his findings:

Just spoke to Kimo's publicist. He was NOT in Costa Rica last night. Was in Orange County and alive at 11. No one has heard from him today

CBS Sports MMA writer Denny Burkholder was also on the case and tweeting:

Regarding Kimo: Orange County Sherriff Dept. knew nothing about it as of 45 mins. ago, other than knowing his name from prior incidents.

And here:

Just spoke to Irvine (Calif.) police re: Kimo. They can't confirm either, other than being sure that if it's true, "it didn't happen here."

When uber-gossip site TMZ.com reported, I nearly broke down -- they got the Michael Jackson scoop correct after all. Here's their report:

TMZ has confirmed former UFC superstar Kimo Leopoldo is dead. He was 41.

Several MMA websites are reporting Leopoldo died from a heart attack ... we're still trying to confirm that fact.

But now MMA journalist Kevin Iole is tweeting that Kimo is in fact, not dead:

Kimo Leopoldo is NOT DEAD, I've been told by his attorney. More details to folo.

UPDATE: More from Iole's twitter feed:

From what I've been told, and this is not finalized, Kimo will hold a conference call tomorrow.

And:

Also, from Kimo's publicist, apparently he was sleeping and woke up to learn of reports of his death.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say, Kimo's alive.

Iole posts his story:

Veteran mixed martial arts fighter Kimo Leopoldo, who made his debut at UFC 3, is still very much alive despite numerous reports to the contrary.

Leopoldo’s attorney, Victor E. Hobbs, said “Kimo has surfaced and that’s all I know right now.” He referred all questions to Leopoldo’s manager, Ron Kort. Kort’s voice mail box was full and could not accept messages.

A happy ending to a silly story.

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Comments

I fucking hate crystal meth.

When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are in a confederacy against him. - Jonathan Swift

by Derek Suboticki on Jul 21, 2009 5:17 PM EDT reply actions

Shameless self-promotion! http://twitter.com/scb0212
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett

by Scott C. Broussard on Jul 21, 2009 5:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Jeremy Mayfield disagrees.

by Sokonojudo on Jul 21, 2009 5:22 PM EDT up reply actions

I’d say he’s not on it in this picture, He looks much heavier than the 07 pic.

Doesn't anybody think before they speak/post anymore?

by Big Boob Lover on Jul 21, 2009 8:58 PM EDT up reply actions

Daily News usually has a better standard than tabloids. (TMZ,etc.)
If Kimo turns out alive their credibility drops a BIG notch.

by Sokonojudo on Jul 21, 2009 5:20 PM EDT reply actions

I'd have to differ on that

In the 15 years I’ve been doing political consulting and PR, I generally have had higher regard for tabloid reporters who break stories just because they have to be ready to defend themselves in court.
The Enquirer NAILED the John Edwards story.
TMZ nailed the Michael Jackson story.
When Newsday reported it with no sources, I never for a minute wavered. But when I saw TMZ I thought, shit maybe something did happen.
Anyway, today it was Iole who did the real reporting work.

Follow me on Twitter @KidNate

by Kid Nate on Jul 21, 2009 5:46 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree with your point that Tabloid reporters have been recently leading the way in breaking news. The MJ story represents a big shift in that TMZ is now a bellwether of a new faster media. I just don’t know if you can reliably trust the tabloids EVERY time. Perhaps, I’m just clinging to Dinosaur Journalism. There’s a quote from Men In Black that says the tabloids are the ones who really publish the truth. Times are certainly changing.

by Sokonojudo on Jul 21, 2009 6:01 PM EDT up reply actions

ah

I think there are more corrective mechanisms in place for media now. inaccurate stories spread faster, but in the old days there was almost no way to retract a false story. That’s changed for the better.

Follow me on Twitter @KidNate

by Kid Nate on Jul 22, 2009 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions

Daily News usually has a better standard than tabloids.

meh… New York Daily News is one step above the New York Post, and thats not saying much.

("you don’t like Brock" – helping Weobo out)

by mythbuster on Jul 21, 2009 8:21 PM EDT up reply actions

Why hold a press conference?

Get some money for that first interview to prove you are not dead.

by steveoc24 on Jul 21, 2009 5:34 PM EDT reply actions

TMZ has taken down their original story of Kimo’s death.

Twitter.com/mmagroundnpound
www.mmagroundnpound.com

by bigtim on Jul 21, 2009 5:38 PM EDT reply actions

This is not aimed at you personally Nate, but just want to note for the next time everyone decides to line up and tee off on Iole, he always gets stuff like this right.

by andherewego on Jul 21, 2009 5:38 PM EDT reply actions

I've never bagged on Iole for his reporting

Just for his analysis and his being a mouthpiece for Dana White.

Follow me on Twitter @KidNate

by Kid Nate on Jul 21, 2009 5:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Come on

He is only a mouth piece 25% of the time. You also forget that UFC is one of the few entities that are a source of revenue for Yahoo.

by bignerd on Jul 21, 2009 6:27 PM EDT up reply actions

I still want to know if Dream lied to him about Cro Cop.

When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are in a confederacy against him. - Jonathan Swift

by Derek Suboticki on Jul 21, 2009 6:14 PM EDT up reply actions

I wonder if somebody leaked a story saying he was dead for free publicity…

by madiq on Jul 21, 2009 5:38 PM EDT reply actions

Reggie Warren Sr aka OMA on the UG:

Did I say Kimo?

I ment Kimbo!!!

It’s crazy how one fake news post on the UG can reach TMZ, NY Daily News, Examiner.com, etc.

by Nick Thomas on Jul 21, 2009 5:42 PM EDT reply actions

And Walter Kronkite just died. Oh The Standards of Journalism.

by Sokonojudo on Jul 21, 2009 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions

http://www.mixedmartialarts.com/?go=forum_framed.frame&forum=1&thread=1493630&page=1&pc=1

by Nick Thomas on Jul 21, 2009 5:45 PM EDT up reply actions

This has been a rough couple weeks for the famous and almost famous.

I dislike Matt Hughes and Twidder.

by MonkeyCHops on Jul 21, 2009 6:07 PM EDT reply actions

Common mistake he want to say that Kimo was red

I dislike Matt Hughes and Twidder.

by MonkeyCHops on Jul 21, 2009 6:24 PM EDT reply actions

Daily News and TMZ deleted it off their website

by The Bronzeville Bully on Jul 21, 2009 6:38 PM EDT reply actions

Smart move not putting this story on the main site when it “broke.” Good instincts to hold back when other sites were passing along what ended up being false information.

by An Old Friend on Jul 21, 2009 6:39 PM EDT reply actions

Imagine that: waking up on a Tuesday and having to dispel rumors that you’re dead.

Keep firing Assholes!

Thanks to Bisping's reenactment of the Battle of Cowpens, walla walla walla I'm an idiot.

by Ubernoober on Jul 21, 2009 6:52 PM EDT reply actions

At least he’s not disappointing people by dispelling them…

Shameless self-promotion! http://twitter.com/scb0212
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett

by Scott C. Broussard on Jul 21, 2009 6:58 PM EDT up reply actions

RUMOR:

Spencer Pratt found dead in tanning bed malfunction.

Keep firing Assholes!

Thanks to Bisping's reenactment of the Battle of Cowpens, walla walla walla I'm an idiot.

by Ubernoober on Jul 21, 2009 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs

I rec'd that

Am I a bad person?

by Captain7 on Jul 21, 2009 11:05 PM EDT up reply actions

You’re only as bad as I am.

Keep firing Assholes!

Thanks to Bisping's reenactment of the Battle of Cowpens, walla walla walla I'm an idiot.

by Ubernoober on Jul 21, 2009 11:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Props to Iole

by Shaun32887 on Jul 21, 2009 9:17 PM EDT reply actions

Good to hear that this isn’t true, it’s crazy how quickly things like this can take off now with the internet.

by Raker on Jul 21, 2009 10:37 PM EDT reply actions

All I can say is this is good news. Hopefully we can find out WTF happened and why this whole this got way out of hand.

WAR KIMO! :)

GSP: I pulled my groin.

Greg Jackson: I don't care Georges! HIT HIM WITH YOUR GROIN!

by xFenixKnightx on Jul 21, 2009 10:53 PM EDT reply actions

A tip of the hat to Kid Nate and Iole for sniffing out the bullshit. I missed the entire thing, but the rundown of what was said by whom is rather entertaining. I mean…accuracy is still pretty important. There’s a big difference between being dead and taking a nap.

by Cannon Jacques on Jul 21, 2009 10:54 PM EDT reply actions