Santos suffered a third-round TKO loss to 'Mercury' at Black Combat 14 last year

Nicolas Santos, known by his nickname "English Assassin" [Black Combat official YouTube capture]
Nicolas Santos, known by his nickname "English Assassin" [Black Combat official YouTube capture]

Nicolas Santos, a Brazilian mixed martial arts fighter who competed in domestic promotion Black Combat and built a following among Korean fans, has died at 19.

Santos died Saturday (local time), according to US combat sports outlet Essentially Sports and other media. The exact cause of death has not been confirmed.

Santos' gym paid tribute to him on social media, referencing depression and mental health struggles. "Depression is a pain we often cannot see," the gym wrote. "There may be people silently fighting their battles behind a smile."

Born March 17, 2007, Santos made his professional MMA debut in 2024. He won his first four bouts by submission before losing three straight, finishing with a career record of four wins and three losses. His final fight came March 7 at WOW 27 in Spain, where Lee Hammond submitted him via rear-naked choke at 2 minutes and 9 seconds of the first round.

Santos was a familiar name to Korean MMA fans. Fighting under the nickname "English Assassin," he competed at Black Combat 14 on May 6 last year at Inspire Arena in Incheon, having earned his spot through a Brazilian audition. He faced Flavio da Silva Santos, known as "Mercury," in a lightweight bout but lost by TKO at 4 minutes and 28 seconds of the third round.

According to Black Combat, Santos drew controversy after being arrested on shoplifting charges at a convenience store following his arrival in South Korea for the event. The promotion's representative disclosed the circumstances on its official YouTube channel and announced that Santos had been released immediately after the fight.

If you're thinking about self-harm or suicide, dial the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 109, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Please request a translator for English-language services.


yjc@heraldcorp.com