João ‘Rafeiro’ Carvalho was rushed to hospital shortly after competing on the inaugural Total Extreme Fighting card in Dublin on Saturday night, but died 48 hours later.

His death was confirmed Tuesday morning by his team, the Lisbon-based ‘Nóbrega Team’ who in a post on Facebook said: “The Nóbrega Team hereby confirms the death of their athlete João Carvalho, which happened last night at the Beaumont Hospital in Dublin at 9.35pm.

“It is with great consternation and sadness that we write these words, to say that the death of the athlete João Carvalho occurred after 48 hours in a critical condition."

Carvalho is said to have started feeling unwell some 20 minutes after the end of the match and received medical attention at the venue before being rushed to hospital, where he underwent brain surgery.

The team said that during the event all safety rules were complied with and the refereeing “followed all correct and usual procedures.”

Extending condolences to Carvalho’s family and the rest of the Nóbrega Team, the statement, penned by Vítor Nóbrega, added: “Despite the ongoing medical care that was provided by the event’s organisers and the Irish hospital organisation, who we thank for their support in these difficult times, and although the risks of this sport are known, the death of João Carvalho in my professional view was a huge misfortune that leaves us deeply saddened and dismayed, both his family and the entire Nóbrega team, who always accompanied João Carvalho throughout his career, where he was rising at both national and international levels.”