Gene LeBell, a former martial artist, died at the age of 89. Let’s see what happened to him and Gene LeBell cause of death in detail
What happened to him?
Gene LeBell, a former professional wrestler, died at the age of 89. The news of Gene LeBell’s demise has stunned everyone, and people are paying tribute to him on social media.
In professional fighting circles, grappling became increasingly common thanks to Gene LeBell, who also gave rise to the current mixed martial arts.
Gene LeBell Cause of Death
Although the exact reason for Gene LeBell’s death has not been determined, it is possible that he passed away naturally.
Age-wise, he was 89.
Gene LeBell’s cause of death has not been confirmed yet but he could have passed from natural causes.
Who was Gene LeBell?
Lebell was a well-known character in the martial arts community, and he also worked as a stuntman in Hollywood and judo, mixed martial arts, professional wrestling, and other sports.
Before eventually switching to professional wrestling, he won the heavyweight and overall Amateur Athletic Union National Judo Championships in 1954 and 1955.
Gene Achievements
He gained notoriety more recently for supporting former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey.
But among the notables he has trained with are members of many different echelons of society, like Sugar Ray Robinson,
Muhammad Ali, Bruce Lee, Chuck Norris, and Roddy Piper, to mention a few. Gokor Chivichyan, Karo Parisyan, and Manny Gamburyan are among the more well-known people who studied under Lebell.
Lebell has written 12 books and starred in more than 1,000 films.
Additionally, he served as the model for Brad Pitt’s Cliff Booth in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.”
Bas Rutten, a former UFC champion and star of the television show Pancrase, paid tribute to Lebell on Facebook while referring to a time when “The Godfather of Grappling” purportedly choked out Steven Seagal on a movie set.
At the age of 89, “the great Gene LeBell, toughest man I know, passed away and left us,” Rutten remarked.
“…We’ve all heard the wacky tales about Seagal, including the fact that he was the first person to compete in mixed martial arts (MMA).
when he took on boxer Milo Savage in a match in 1963 (I wasn’t even born at the time), that he was still pulling wheelies on his motorcycle at the age of 84, and countless other tales that can be found online.
Every single person I know likes Gene, and I am glad to say that when we first met, we always had a good time and were always making jokes.
The only fight listed on Lebell’s MMA resume is the one mentioned above with Savage, which he won by choking the professional boxer on December 2, 1963, in the fourth round of their fight.
It is thought to have been the first legitimate mixed martial arts match.
Gene LeBell career
LeBell began his training with the great Ed “Strangler” Lewis when he was seven years old. He later received instruction from Karl Gotch and Lou Thesz.
Also, he competed in wrestling all around the world and achieved success, including winning the NWA Hawaii Championship.
Also famously oversaw the 1976 fight between Muhammad Ali and Antonio Inoki. 2005 saw LeBell win the Frank Gotch Award, and 2011 saw him become a member of the NWA Hall of Fame.
“The Godfather of Grappling” worked with people like Ronda Rousey and Roddy Piper, leaving a lasting impression on the industry.
He was well-known for his combat sports expertise in both MMA and wrestling.
As a tribute to LeBell, Bryan Danielson’s Yes Lock was previously known as The LeBell Lock.
In addition to fighting sports, LeBell worked on a lot of films and TV series.
He had three cinematic appearances with Elvis Presley and always picked fights with the latter’s persona.
Additionally, he published 12 books on combat sports.
As he accompanied Rousey to the ring for her MMA battles, he grew close to her in his later years.
To the family, close friends, and admirers of “Judo” Gene LeBell, Fightful would like to express our sympathies.
Tributes to Gene LeBell
“Judo” Gene LeBell has sadly passed away at 89 years old
Rest In Peace. We’ll always have the Steven Seagull story and the pink gi one
Cre tweeted
Rest in peace martial arts king
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Lavanya (Senior Editor) is a full-time content writer with almost 5 years of experience and a part-time teacher. She joined Medico Topics on the Breaking News trainee scheme in 2022 and now works on MedicoTopics.com. As a lifelong learner, She is constantly curious about learning new things and passionate about sharing knowledge with people through her writing and teaching.