A Portuguese mixed martial arts fighter has died following a Total Extreme Fighting event in Dublin at the weekend.

João Carvalho fell ill 20 minutes after being beaten in a technical knockout by Charlie “The Hospital” Ward, a team-mate of the Ultimate Fighting Championship champion Conor McGregor.

The fighter was attended to by on-site medical staff and was taken to Beaumont hospital where he underwent emergency brain surgery but the 28-year-old succumbed to his injuries on Monday night.

A statement from his Vitor Nóbrega team on RTE confirmed his death. “It is with great sorrow and sadness that we write these words, that the death of the athlete João Carvalho happened after 48 hours in critical condition,” they said.

“On the site [Carvalho] was immediately assisted by the medical team and then quickly transported to the hospital Beaumont, where he was subjected to a brain surgical intervention, after which the athlete remained in critical condition during the 48 hours following, eventually passing away on this Monday at 21:35 hours.”

The organisers of the event, Total Extreme Fighting, said: “The TEF team are deeply saddened by the news of João Carvalho’s death. Last night 11th of April, mixed martial artist João Carvalho passed away after two days of the best medical care and treatment in Beaumont hospital following his three-round TKO stoppage defeat on Saturday 9 April at the National Stadium in Dublin.”

Cesar Silva, the CEO of Total Extreme Fighting, added: “We extend our most sincere condolences to the family of João Carvalho’s and his team-mates in Team Nobrega. Our thoughts and prayers are with them. We’d also like to thank all sports fans for their concern and support. We will give whatever support we can to João’s family.

“We have been in contact with his family and they have requested that we all understand their need for privacy at this difficult time.”