New details have emerged in the ongoing investigation into the death of MMA fighter Isaac T. Johnson, shedding light on what witnesses say unfolded inside the ring and in the moments immediately after he collapsed.
The latest information was shared publicly by sports journalist Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson, as state regulators and the Cook County Medical Examiner continue reviewing the circumstances surrounding Johnson’s death.
Johnson, 31, died after collapsing near the end of his first-ever amateur Muay Thai bout at the Matador Fighter Challenge on November 21 at Cicero Stadium in suburban Chicago. He went down during the third and final round of the contest and never regained consciousness.
An ambulance was called to the venue shortly before 8:40 p.m., and Johnson was transported to Loyola University Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead just after midnight. An autopsy has been scheduled, and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) confirmed it is conducting a full review of the incident.
According to Robinson’s reporting, concerns have grown around what spectators say they witnessed earlier in the fight—particularly during the second round.
Video reviewed by Robinson indicates a potential issue with the enforcement of Illinois’ mandatory eight-count rule in Muay Thai. At one point, Johnson’s opponent was seen kneeling as the referee appeared to begin a count.
However, the fight resumed after roughly 13 seconds, well beyond the expected stoppage window. Fans in the crowd reportedly pleaded for the referee to stop the bout, but it continued.
Johnson’s girlfriend, Charlese Antionette, provided one of the most detailed firsthand accounts of the moments leading up to and following his collapse. She told Robinson that Johnson appeared “winded in the second round” and described his fall as gradual.
“He fell first to his knees and then laid flat,” she said. Antionette emphasized that there were no known health concerns ahead of the fight, stating, “I was with him for 48 hours before the fight, and he was really healthy and energetic as usual.”
She also questioned the medical response once Johnson went down. Antionette recalled being told to move away before finding herself running alongside his stretcher, asking for information that she says never came.
“I’m asking ‘what’s wrong? what’s wrong?’ and they’re not giving me any answers,” she said. At one point, she began to question the delay in care. “I’m now wondering what took so long to get him oxygen,” Antionette added.
As Johnson was transported through the venue, she sensed his condition worsening. “His eyes were blank in a way I’ve never seen his eyes before,” she said. “At that point I knew the love of my life was gone.”
She also raised concerns about the pace of the emergency exit, noting, “I don’t know what was taking so long. I thought they would rush him out since he wasn’t responsive.”