Nicolas Santos, a 19-year-old Brazilian mixed martial artist who trained at Chute Boxe Monstro in Curitiba, died on October 10. Word spread after Chute Boxe posted a tribute to him in an Instagram story, and Essentially Sports reported that the post made clear the young fighter had been struggling with his mental health.
The message itself never reads like a press release. “Depression is a pain that we often cannot see,” the gym wrote. “Behind a smile, there may be someone facing a silent battle.” The post went on to ask people to listen without judgment and to show up for those around them.
A few things are still unknown. No official cause of death has been released, and Essentially Sports noted that it’s unclear whether those mental health struggles were the direct cause. His family, his team and the people closest to him haven’t said more publicly, and that silence deserves room.
Santos was born on March 17, 2007, and worked under coach Ed Carlos at Chute Boxe Monstro. He built his early record on Brazil’s regional circuit before his biggest spotlight arrived in March 2026, when he fought Lee Hammond at WOW FC, the promotion run by Ilia Topuria, and lost by submission. That bout is the final line on a 4-3 record. One fan wrote online that he had seen Santos compete at WOW 27 in Madrid and said the news left him chilled to the bone.
The gym names can confuse people, so here’s how it breaks down. Chute Boxe Monstro is a Curitiba gym. The better-known Chute Boxe in São Paulo is run by Diego Lima, Charles Oliveira’s head coach, and the two appear to operate independently. The tribute to Santos was posted on Lima’s Chute Boxe account, which suggests a bond between the rooms even if the businesses are separate.
Fans filled the comments with prayers and goodbyes. One wrote, “The athlete from Paraná Nikolas Santos has left us,” and then shared his own experience with depression, saying it’s incredibly difficult just to wake up. Another simply wrote, “You will be greatly missed, Nick! Rest in peace.”
A 4-3 record at 19 belongs to a kid still learning the job, still figuring out where his hips go in a scramble and how to get up off the mat after a bad night. Nobody outside that room in Curitiba knew what he was carrying, and I keep thinking about Ed Carlos and the teammates who will walk past his spot on the mats this week. The gym’s message asked for something small and specific, a hug or a word or an ear, and that’s a fair thing to take from it. If you’re struggling, CVV in Brazil answers at 188, and in the U.S. you can call or text 988.
