Update 2:10am: Mothership received an official update from Asia Fighting Championship regarding the incident. The statement is included at the end of the post.

What was meant to be a light-hearted celebrity event ended in tragedy on Saturday, Sep. 23, as Pradip Subramanian died in hospital after competing in a Muay Thai fight with local entertainer Steven Lim. Pradip was 32.

Lim shared a Facebook post on the tragic news after midnight.

Pradip, the President and Director of the World Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Federation, was a last minute replacement for local singer Sylvester Sim, who was Lim's initial opponent.

Sim, a fellow alumnus of Singapore Idol, withdrew from the fight on Sep. 22, due to "Insufficient insurance coverage provided by the organisers and restrictions on increased coverage as stipulated by the insurance companies."

The fight was part of the inaugural Asia Fighting Championship event, one of a number of Muay Thai fights. It was scheduled for two rounds, each taking two minutes.

Although Pradip seemed in better shape than Lim, he took several blows to the head during the match. The referee stopped the bout during the second round after Pradip was knocked down, and ended the match. Lim was awarded the victory by technical knockout.

Pradip was helped to the back by medical officials following the fight. Lim commented on an Instagram post immediately after the fight that Pradip had been taken to hospital.

Mothership received the following official statement from AFC:

"We are deeply saddened to share the news that Mr. Pradip Subramanian, Exhibition Match-Up fighter and President of the World Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Federation of Singapore (WBPF) has passed away at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) on 23rd September 2017 at 21:00 hrs.

We are in close contact with the medical staff at the hospital to ascertain the cause of death and request that during this difficult time we should come together and extend our support to Mr. Subramanian's family, friends and associates and refrain from any speculation.

An official press conference/statement will be held in due course.

Mr. Subramanian's project, the AFC Physique Championships (APC) which is scheduled for 24th September 2017 will be cancelled as a mark of respect."

Related story:

Champion bodybuilder replaces Sylvester Sim to fight Steven Lim in Muay Thai bout

Sylvester Sim drops out of Muay Thai fight with Steven Lim as he couldn’t get enough insurance

S’pore Idol alumni Steven Lim & Sylvester Sim to fight in Muay Thai match

Top image from Asia Fighting Championship.