“The Polar Bear” competed for the UFC through multiple tournaments in 1995 and 1996, becoming a fan favorite.
Paul Varelans, one of the pioneers of early No Holds Barred fighting, has died of COVID-19 at the age of 51 years old.
Varelans was an oldschool UFC veteran who fought at UFC 6, 7, 8, and in the first two Ultimate Ultimate tournaments. Nicknamed “The Polar Bear” because of his 6’8” stature and home state of Alaska, Varelans was a fierce competitor who lived and died by the sword in the Octagon. He made it to the finals of the UFC 7 tournament, losing to Marco Ruas via vicious leg kicks. He also competed in other MMA proto-promotions like IRC, WVC, Extreme Challenge, Pancrase, and Rings.
“I have never felt so sick in my life, going to get tested today,” Varelans wrote on his Facebook page on the 10th of December. “Actually this is how I felt before UFC 7 when I had flu. I hope it’s a flu. Either way it’s time for raw garlic and shit loads of grapefruit.”
“So its official I am Covid-19 positive. And feel like hell,” he wrote on the 12th. “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 they never stop coming”.
Varelans was hospitalized immediately and his condition quickly deteriorated until he was put into a medically induced coma and placed on a ventilator.
“Paul recovered up to 50% of his own breathing by Christmas day, but then he started to fight the ventilator,” one post reported on the 26th. “He’s having some other issues and they put the ventilator back to doing 100% of the work. He’s a giant, so it’s taking 8 people to flip him safely to keep his blood from pooling, but the dialysis is continuing to do its job. He’s still deep in a medically induced coma and fighting the biggest fight of his life.”
RIP Paul Varelans. You left us far too soon. People talk about Pioneers of MMA all the time bringing up names that came into the game years after it began. You were truly one of the pioneers of the sport starting all the way back at UFC 6. Rest in Power my friend!
— Big John McCarthy (@JohnMcCarthyMMA) January 17, 2021
Paul was “back up to 70% his own breathing today,” one friend wrote on December 30th. “Which is awesome, but doctors say we need to be “cautiously optimistic” as he’s been up to 40% and 60% of his own power to only be reduced back to 0% before already. So he is steadily showing some signs of improvement only to relapse for a bit.”
He died on Saturday January 16th, 2021.