Who was MMA veteran Matthew MacGrath? The “Belt Collector” passes away at 46 after a long battle with cancer

Matthew MacGrath, a respected name in Canadian mixed martial arts, passed away on January 30 at the age of 46. Known to most as Matt, he lived his life by a simple rule. He always aimed to be one percent better than the day before. That mindset shaped both his fighting career and his personal life. His death has left the MMA community in shock and mourning.Belvedere Funeral Home confirmed that MacGrath had been fighting cancer before his passing. A former professional fighter and later a coach, he shared the cage with several well-known names. These included Nordine Taleb, Jonathan Goulet, and Jesse Ronson. He is survived by his wife, Melanie and their three children, Keely, Levi, and Sutter, who were central to his life.Matthew MacGrath was born in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, and later settled in Stratford, Prince Edward Island. He began his martial arts journey at just nine years old with judo. By the age of 20, he added Brazilian jiu-jitsu to his training. His hard work paid off when he became the first person from Prince Edward Island to earn black belts in both judo and BJJ.He turned professional in December 2006 and quickly made a name for himself. Nicknamed “The Belt Collector,” MacGrath won seven championship titles across Canada. He competed in 28 professional MMA fights and appeared in promotions like Bellator, Extreme Cage Combat, and Elite1 MMA Productions. His final fight came in June 2017.After retiring, MacGrath focused on coaching and mentoring young athletes. He guided fighters to medals at five Canada Games and several national events. One of his proudest moments came as a coach when he helped his daughter Keely win national gold and silver medals in wrestling at the Canada Games. He also ran Tsuyoi Judo and Renzo Gracie PEI, shaping the careers of many young athletes.Following his death, MMA journalist James Lynch shared the sad news online, noting that MacGrath had lost his fight with cancer and had competed against several UFC veterans. Sports writer Adam Martin also paid tribute. He honored MacGrath’s impact on the sport.Matthew MacGrath’s influence reached far beyond the cage. His legacy lives on through his family and his students.