Girlfriend of UFC fighter Raulian Paiva dies six days after being struck by a car in Brazil

Tieli Alves, girlfriend of UFC lightweight Raulian Paiva, died six days after the couple was struck by a car in Santana, Brazil, on Oct. 21.

Alves remained in coma for days after a car hit both for behind while riding a motorcycle after leaving a party last Sunday morning, but was declared brain dead late last week. Alves passed away on Saturday, Paiva’s coach confirmed to MMA Fighting.

”I know you were a guardian angel in my life, I know you are in a good place now, but I can’t accept it, I can’t live without your presence by my side, princess,” Paiva posted on his social media Saturday. “I will always love you and you will forever be my girlfriend. Love you forever.”

According to reports from local news outlets, Paiva and his girlfriend decided to leave a night club after two men harassed her and tried to pick a fight with him. Paiva stopped his motorcycle at a red light and was hit from behind by the car. Paiva didn’t suffer any serious injury, but apparently Alves’ helmet went off on the fall.

“When the car hit them, looks like Raulian fell off the motorcycle so he just got injured from the fall, but the car dragged the motorcycle with her on it for some time,” Paiva’s manager Tiago Okamura told MMA Fighting on Monday. “That was uncalled for, they had no motives. These guys tried to kill them for no reason.”

Elber Nunes Zacheu and Johny de Souza Amoras, who were allegedly in the car, were arrested by the police.

Paiva (18-1) signed an exclusive deal with the UFC after scoring his 12th straight victory in August, defeating Allan Nascimento via split decision at the Brazilian edition of Dana White’s Contender Series in Las Vegas, but the UFC hasn’t scheduled his debut yet.