The preliminary cause of death of MMA fighter Ponomarev was a ruptured blood clot.

The preliminary cause of death of former AMC Fight Nights heavyweight champion Grigory Ponomarev could be a ruptured blood clot. A source told TASS about this on September 20.

"Previously, the cause was a blood clot," the source said.

In professional MMA, the athlete had nine fights, winning six victories, five of which ended with a knockout. In 2022, the athlete won the AMC Fight Nights heavyweight championship belt.

"If I'm going to be a champion, it's one that doesn't need to be protected."

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Ponomarev died at the age of 32 on September 20. In 2023, he moved to the ACA League. His last professional fight was in August of the same year against Mukhumat Vakhaev at the ACA 161 tournament. The fight ended with a technical knockout due to a knee injury to Ponomarev.