# Elias Theodorou
**Elias Theodorou** (May 31, 1988 – September 11, 2022), known by the nickname "The Spartan," was a Canadian middleweight mixed martial artist who won the middleweight competition on *The Ultimate Fighter: Nations* in 2014, fought eight years in professional MMA including a five-season UFC career from 2014 to 2019, and became the first professional athlete to receive a therapeutic use exemption (TUE) for medical cannabis.[1](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Elias-Theodorou-81765) • [2](https://www.ufc.com/news/remembering-elias-theodorou-1988-2022) • [3](https://www.mmafighting.com/2020/2/18/21142907/elias-theodorou-becomes-first-mma-fighter-to-receive-tue-exemption-for-medical-cannabis) He died of colon cancer at the age of 34.[2](https://www.ufc.com/news/remembering-elias-theodorou-1988-2022)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born / died | 1988; September 11, 2022, of colon cancer at age 34[1](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Elias-Theodorou-81765) • [2](https://www.ufc.com/news/remembering-elias-theodorou-1988-2022) |
| Division / physique | Middleweight; 6'1" (185.42 cm), 185 lbs (83.91 kg)[1](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Elias-Theodorou-81765) |
| Signature achievement | Won *The Ultimate Fighter: Nations* middleweight final, defeating Sheldon Westcott by TKO on April 16, 2014[1](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Elias-Theodorou-81765) |
| Professional record | 19 wins and 3 losses per Sherdog's fight history; the UFC's memorial article gives 20-3[1](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Elias-Theodorou-81765) • [2](https://www.ufc.com/news/remembering-elias-theodorou-1988-2022) |
| UFC tenure | 2014 to 2019, with an 8-2 record cited before his final bout and wins over Sam Alvey, Cezar Ferreira, Dan Kelly, Trevor Smith, and Eryk Anders[2](https://www.ufc.com/news/remembering-elias-theodorou-1988-2022) • [4](https://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/The-Film-Room-Elias-Theodorou-153821/amp) |
| Cannabis advocacy | First professional athlete to receive a TUE for medical cannabis, granted by the BC Athletic Commission in January 2020; first US exemption in May 2021[3](https://www.mmafighting.com/2020/2/18/21142907/elias-theodorou-becomes-first-mma-fighter-to-receive-tue-exemption-for-medical-cannabis) • [5](https://www.prweb.com/releases/elias-theodorou-first-professional-athlete-to-secure-medical-cannabis-exemption-in-the-united-states-871453864.html) |
| Outside the cage | Modeling and television work in Canada, including Harlequin novel covers and more than 10 television shows; occasional "ring card boy" for Invicta FC[6](https://www.mmafighting.com/2014/10/3/6889069/ufc-elias-theodorou-fight-night-the-art-of-self-promotion-mma-news) • [7](https://www.ufc.com/news/theodorou-building-his-brand-inside-and-outside-octagon) |
## Early life and start in martial arts
Theodorou was a [Mississauga](https://www.edgepedia.org/mississauga), Ontario native who trained in the [Greater Toronto Area](https://www.edgepedia.org/greater-toronto-area).[8](https://www.sportsnet.ca/mma/ufc/elias-theodorou-vs-shelson-westcott-tuf-nations-finale-marathon-runner-vs-sprinter/) He began martial arts around age 20, during his first year of university, and turned professional in June 2011.[6](https://www.mmafighting.com/2014/10/3/6889069/ufc-elias-theodorou-fight-night-the-art-of-self-promotion-mma-news) He held a B.A. in creative advertising and described building his own personal brand as a deliberate business practice.[6](https://www.mmafighting.com/2014/10/3/6889069/ufc-elias-theodorou-fight-night-the-art-of-self-promotion-mma-news)
**Modeling and media work.** Before and during his early fighting career, Theodorou worked as a model and actor in Canada, appearing on the cover of [Harlequin](https://www.edgepedia.org/harlequin) novels and on more than 10 television shows, and he received offers for small roles in the films *Godzilla* and *Robocop*, both filmed in Canada; he declined them because upcoming fights were his priority.[6](https://www.mmafighting.com/2014/10/3/6889069/ufc-elias-theodorou-fight-night-the-art-of-self-promotion-mma-news) His long hair became a trademark he called the "best hair in MMA," and it drew a shampoo sponsorship.[7](https://www.ufc.com/news/theodorou-building-his-brand-inside-and-outside-octagon) • [8](https://www.sportsnet.ca/mma/ufc/elias-theodorou-vs-shelson-westcott-tuf-nations-finale-marathon-runner-vs-sprinter/) He also worked occasional weekends as a "ring boy" for the all-female promotion Invicta FC.[7](https://www.ufc.com/news/theodorou-building-his-brand-inside-and-outside-octagon)
## The Ultimate Fighter: Nations
Theodorou entered *The Ultimate Fighter: Nations*, the Canada versus Australia season of the UFC's reality show, with an undefeated professional record.[6](https://www.mmafighting.com/2014/10/3/6889069/ufc-elias-theodorou-fight-night-the-art-of-self-promotion-mma-news) • [8](https://www.sportsnet.ca/mma/ufc/elias-theodorou-vs-shelson-westcott-tuf-nations-finale-marathon-runner-vs-sprinter/) On the show he won unanimous decisions over Zein Saliba and Tyler Manawaroa to reach the middleweight final.[8](https://www.sportsnet.ca/mma/ufc/elias-theodorou-vs-shelson-westcott-tuf-nations-finale-marathon-runner-vs-sprinter/) In the April 16, 2014 finale he stopped fellow finalist Sheldon Westcott by TKO with punches and elbows in the second round, becoming the first TUF winner from Canada.[1](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Elias-Theodorou-81765) • [9](https://www.ufc.com/news/elias-theodorou-spartan-returns-halifax) He described his style as a marathon runner's, telling [Sportsnet](https://www.edgepedia.org/sportsnet), "I love being in the cage. I don't mind it going the whole way because I know I've got pace for days."
## UFC career
Theodorou made his Octagon debut on April 16, 2014, the night of the TUF Nations finale, and fought in the UFC from 2014 to 2019.[10](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/elias-theodorou) • [2](https://www.ufc.com/news/remembering-elias-theodorou-1988-2022) After winning the show he added victories over Bruno Santos and Roger Narvaez before losing for the first time to [Thiago Santos](https://www.edgepedia.org/thiago-santos) in December 2015.[2](https://www.ufc.com/news/remembering-elias-theodorou-1988-2022) • [1](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Elias-Theodorou-81765) A June 2016 win over [Sam Alvey](https://www.edgepedia.org/sam-alvey) and a 2017 decision over Cezar Ferreira were followed by a loss to [Brad Tavares](https://www.edgepedia.org/brad-tavares); in his final four Octagon appearances he won three, over Dan Kelly, Trevor Smith, and Eryk Anders, with the lone loss a unanimous decision to Derek Brunson at UFC Fight Night 151 in Ottawa on May 4, 2019.[2](https://www.ufc.com/news/remembering-elias-theodorou-1988-2022) • [1](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Elias-Theodorou-81765)
His UFC statistics reflect a decision-heavy style: of his UFC-listed wins, 10 came by decision and 6 by knockout or technical knockout, with one submission, and he landed 644 of 1,524 significant strike attempts (about 42 percent accuracy) across an average fight time of 13:59.[10](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/elias-theodorou) Sherdog's fight log shows he did not finish an opponent after his UFC 185 TKO of Roger Narvaez in March 2015.[1](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Elias-Theodorou-81765) • [11](https://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/By-the-Numbers-Derek-Brunson-vs-Elias-Theodorou-153705)
**Post-UFC career.** After his release, Theodorou fought on the regional circuit, beating Hernani Perpetuo in December 2019, Matt Dwyer in March 2021, and Bryan Baker in December 2021, ending his career on a winning note.[2](https://www.ufc.com/news/remembering-elias-theodorou-1988-2022) • [1](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Elias-Theodorou-81765)
## Medical cannabis advocacy
Theodorou's most consequential work outside fighting was his campaign for medical cannabis in professional sport, pursued while he struggled with bilateral neuropathy, a nerve condition causing pain.[12](https://www.mmafighting.com/2022/9/12/23349944/aaron-jeffery-on-death-of-teammate-elias-theodorou-i-dont-know-if-im-in-shock-or-disbelief) In January 2020 he became the first professional athlete, in combat sports or professional sports generally, to receive a therapeutic use exemption for medical cannabis, granted by the British Columbia Athletic Commission.[3](https://www.mmafighting.com/2020/2/18/21142907/elias-theodorou-becomes-first-mma-fighter-to-receive-tue-exemption-for-medical-cannabis) • [5](https://www.prweb.com/releases/elias-theodorou-first-professional-athlete-to-secure-medical-cannabis-exemption-in-the-united-states-871453864.html) In May 2021 he secured the first such exemption from a United States athletic commission, making him the first professional athlete to compete in the US with a medical cannabis exemption.[5](https://www.prweb.com/releases/elias-theodorou-first-professional-athlete-to-secure-medical-cannabis-exemption-in-the-united-states-871453864.html) His management firm, Paradigm Sports Management, announced the 2020 achievement, and Theodorou said the approval recognized "my fundamental Canadian right to medicate as prescribed by my medical doctor."[3](https://www.mmafighting.com/2020/2/18/21142907/elias-theodorou-becomes-first-mma-fighter-to-receive-tue-exemption-for-medical-cannabis)
## Death and legacy
Theodorou died on September 11, 2022, in Toronto, after a private battle with colon cancer that he had not publicly disclosed in detail; his longtime teammate [Aaron Jeffery](https://www.edgepedia.org/aaron-jeffery) said even some of his coaches had not known the full story.[1](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Elias-Theodorou-81765) • [2](https://www.ufc.com/news/remembering-elias-theodorou-1988-2022) • [12](https://www.mmafighting.com/2022/9/12/23349944/aaron-jeffery-on-death-of-teammate-elias-theodorou-i-dont-know-if-im-in-shock-or-disbelief) The Theodorou Foundation was established in his memory.[13](https://theodoroufoundation.com/about) Jeffery described him as a role model who used his platform beyond fighting: "He was kind of someone that I wanted to model my career after."
## References
1. [Elias "The Spartan" Theodorou MMA Stats and Biography, Sherdog](https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Elias-Theodorou-81765)
2. [Remembering Elias Theodorou, 1988-2022, UFC.com](https://www.ufc.com/news/remembering-elias-theodorou-1988-2022)
3. [Elias Theodorou becomes first MMA fighter to receive TUE exemption for medical cannabis, MMA Fighting](https://www.mmafighting.com/2020/2/18/21142907/elias-theodorou-becomes-first-mma-fighter-to-receive-tue-exemption-for-medical-cannabis)
4. [The Film Room: Elias Theodorou, Sherdog](https://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/The-Film-Room-Elias-Theodorou-153821/amp)
5. [Elias Theodorou: First Professional Athlete to Secure Medical Cannabis Exemption in the United States, PRWeb](https://www.prweb.com/releases/elias-theodorou-first-professional-athlete-to-secure-medical-cannabis-exemption-in-the-united-states-871453864.html)
6. [Elias Theodorou and the art of self-promotion, MMA Fighting](https://www.mmafighting.com/2014/10/3/6889069/ufc-elias-theodorou-fight-night-the-art-of-self-promotion-mma-news)
7. [Theodorou building his brand inside and outside the Octagon, UFC.com](https://www.ufc.com/news/theodorou-building-his-brand-inside-and-outside-octagon)
8. [Theodorou: TUF finale a marathon, not a sprint, Sportsnet](https://www.sportsnet.ca/mma/ufc/elias-theodorou-vs-shelson-westcott-tuf-nations-finale-marathon-runner-vs-sprinter/)
9. [Elias Theodorou: The Spartan Returns in Halifax, UFC.com](https://www.ufc.com/news/elias-theodorou-spartan-returns-halifax)
10. [Elias Theodorou athlete profile, UFC.com](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/elias-theodorou)
11. [By the Numbers: Derek Brunson vs. Elias Theodorou, Sherdog](https://www.sherdog.com/news/articles/By-the-Numbers-Derek-Brunson-vs-Elias-Theodorou-153705)
12. [Aaron Jeffery on death of teammate Elias Theodorou, MMA Fighting](https://www.mmafighting.com/2022/9/12/23349944/aaron-jeffery-on-death-of-teammate-elias-theodorou-i-dont-know-if-im-in-shock-or-disbelief)
13. [Theodorou Foundation](https://theodoroufoundation.com/about)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Individual sports and outdoor recreation › Combat sports and professional wrestling › Mixed martial arts › Welterweight and middleweight fighters › Middleweight fighters*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license