Tragedy has struck the Bellator MMA family, and MMA community at large, for the second time in less than two weeks. News broke late Tuesday that Bellator fighter William Joplin had passed away, following a battle with pancreatic cancer. It comes shortly after another Bellator alumni, Katy Collins, died in late September after suffering a brain aneurysm.

It’s not the kind of fight anyone wants to find themselves in. Joplin’s diagnosis was grim from the outset. Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly forms of cancer (Jeopardy host Alex Trebek is currently fighting the disease), and in Joplin’s case, the disease had already spread to other organs. Still, he fought over a year, undergoing rounds of chemotherapy.

A GoFundMe page established to help with William Joplin’s medical costs confirmed the sad news. Sherry Joplin, William’s sister, wrote that “It hurts to inform everybody but William Joplin lost his fight with Pancreatic cancer this morning. We could still use your help paying for cremation expenses and a memorial service.”

Joplin (18-15, 1NC), a.k.a ‘The Armadillo,’ turned pro back in 2010, after a brief amateur stint that included a bout against future UFC fighter Kevin Aguilar. After a rocky start saw him go 2-8 out of the gate, he battled back, bringing his record to an even .500 at 8-8 by 2014. Appearances for RFA, Titan FC, Shamrock FC, and others would follow. As would shots in bigger promotions including LFA and Bellator MMA. The latter saw Joplin face off against future title challenger Juan Archuleta at Bellator 195 in March 2018. It was his only loss in his final five fights, as Joplin went 3-1, 1NC in that span — with the no contest coming as a result of lightning.

Incredibly, while Joplin wrapped up his MMA career in 2018, he continued to train and compete, becoming the first 160lb Combat Jiu-jitsu champion in the state of Kansas at UCL’s Battle of the Titans II this past July.

Universal Combat League released a statement on Joplin’s passing via their official Facebook page. “A warrior was lost today….. With a heavy heart we we’re honored to have hosted this champion in his final appearance in the cage. Rest in peace William you lived your life like you fought in the cage. With courage and strength. One of the toughest men ever. RIP William The Armadillo Joplin.”

Tragically, Joplin’s mother Janet passed away from pancreatic cancer as well, just eight months prior to her son’s diagnosis in August 2018, weeks after his final MMA bout.

A native of Kansas City, Missouri, Joplin was a popular figure among fellow fighters and teammates, many of whom responded to his passing Tuesday. The bantamweight trained with the likes of James Krause, Zak Cummings, Tim Elliot and others at Glory MMA & Fitness in Lee’s Summit, Missouri.

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RIP William Joplin #warrior pic.twitter.com/O9DWPsxfmo

— Rich Chou (@rich_chou) October 8, 2019

Joplin, whose birthday fell on September 18, was 41-years old. Our deepest condolences go out to Joplin’s friends and family.

The post Bellator Alum William Joplin Passes Away Following Battle with Pancreatic Cancer appeared first on Cageside Press.

Bellator 195 went down live Friday night from the WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, OK. In main card action, featherweights Juan Archuleta and William Joplin threw down early in the night, opening up the show on the Paramount Network. Joplin took the fight on short notice, while Juan Archuleta was undefeated since 2015.

Archuleta was looking to finish the fight early. After Joplin got aggressive in the opening moments of the bout, Archuleta began peppering him with shots along the fence. They went to the ground, with Archuleta going to work in Joplin’s guard. Ground and pound followed, and Archuleta, coached by Joe Stevenson, added a heavy knee to the body of Joplin. Joplin would make it back to his feet, however, and go back on the offensive, launching a couple of overhand rights before shooting in for a takedown. That was stuffed, and it was Archuleta taking Joplin to the ground once more. It was more ground and pound from Archuleta from that point, and though a low blow would briefly stop the action towards the end of the frame, Joplin would find little reprieve in the first.

Archuleta started with a flurry in round two. Joplin was soon on his knees, and Archuleta connected with a high kick partially blocked by Joplin before taking his opponent to the canvas. As Joplin was on his way up during the sequence, he was not a downed oppoent. Joplin struggled to regain his feet, while Archuleta pressured him with punches. Back up, Joplin had to contend with a cartwheel kick attempt, and responded with one of his own. The pair then traded spinning back fists (with Joplin’s not really being a full effort) before they went back to a brief exchange. Then, as he had often in round one, Archuleta again took Joplin down. He’d control Joplin on the ground for a good long while, only to have the ref stand the fight up for a perceived lack of action in the final minute of the round. That was short lived, as Archuleta immediately took Joplin down one more time.

Round three saw Joplin showing serious damage to the left eye, and he was soon in a bit of a firefight with Archuleta. Archuleta then took his adversary down along the cage, and went to work looking for a choke. Joplin survived, but was well behind in the fight. Knees to the thigh rained down as he struggled to make it back up. It was all for not. The lopsided decision was soon in the books, with one judge awarding a nearly unheard of 30-23.

Juan Archuleta def. William Joplin by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-24, 30-23)

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