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UFC old schooler Kimo Leopoldo is alive.

The rumors which circulated earlier today that Leopaldo passed away from complications of a heart attack Monday night in Costa Rica are untrue, MMAFighting.com has learned from Leopoldo's publicist.

Further, within sixteen minutes after the truth came out, the internet prankster who started the rumor admitted that he fabricated the story.

His manager Ron Kort, of Santa Ana-based New Era Fighting, broke the news to him: "According to the media, you're dead," Kort recalled saying.

Reports of Leopoldo's demise originated from MMA websites that incorrectly reported the 41-year-old died from complications of a heart attack late Monday night, Kort said.

Numerous media reports, including ones from TMZ, the New York Daily News, Orange County Register, USA Today and the Huffington Post, also reported his death.

"When I saw the sites, it scared me," Leopoldo said.

The Orange County Sheriff's coroner's office received more than 200 phone calls about Leopoldo's purported death starting as early as 7 a.m., spokesman Jim Amormino said. After trying to confirm the reports through local hospitals, county health officials and the fire department, Amormino fielded inquiries until Leopoldo held a news conference at 5 p.m. outside the sheriff's office in Santa Ana.

Leopoldo (10-7-1) is six-time UFC competitor and a two-time PRIDE fighter. He made his UFC debut at UFC 3 in September 2004, losing via submission to Royce Gracie. His last fight was a TKO loss to Wes Sims at an X-1 event in Hawaii on Oct. 6, 2006.

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