UFC pioneer Paul Varelans dies at 51 following battle with COVID-19
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UFC pioneer Paul Varelans has died at the age of 51 following a battle with COVID-19.
“The Polar Bear” had been on a ventilator and receiving dialysis treatments before he was eventually placed into a medically induced coma. Sadly, Varelans never recovered, and he passed away this past weekend in Atlanta.
In mid-December, Varelans had posted on social media that he contracted the coronavirus, adding “I feel like hell.” Later, he wrote, “best way I can compare the feel of COVID-19 in my experience is it’s like fighting a guy who specializes in kidney punches.”