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Muhammad Ali with UFC middleweight Kevin Casey. Instagram.com/KingKevinCasey

Casey contests UFC 199 bout 24 hours after the death of father-in-law Muhammad Ali

Casey took on Elvis Mutapcic in Los Angeles.

Updated at 00.28

KEVIN CASEYโ€™S MIDDLEWEIGHT bout against Elvis Mutapcic went ahead tonight, in spite of the death of Muhammad Ali โ€” Caseyโ€™s father-in-law โ€” who passed away on Friday evening.

The legendary, iconic, peerless former world heavyweight boxing champion, who battled Parkinsonโ€™s disease for 32 years, died in Phoenix at the age of 74.

Casey competed on the preliminary card at UFC 199 at the Los Angeles Forum, fighting to a majority draw against Mutapcic on scores of 29-28, 28-29, 28-28.

The 34-year-old MMA fighter โ€” who is married to Hana, Muhammad Aliโ€™s daughter โ€” posted a photo to Instagram of he and his father-in-law following Aliโ€™s passing.

โ€œItโ€™s a lot to go through before a fight but thank you guys for the support and God bless my family,โ€ Casey told the UFCโ€™s Joe Rogan in a brief post-fight interview.

Screen Shot 2016-06-05 at 00.15.12 Kevin Casey and Elvis Mutapcic after the result of the fight was announced.

Speaking to UFC.com back in January, Casey recalled his first meeting with the greatest fighter of all time: โ€œIt was this unbelievable feeling. It was hard to even look directly at him. I literally felt the energy coming off of him.โ€

In a post on Instagram, Hana Ali said: โ€œOur hearts are literally hurting. But we are so happy daddy is free now. We all tried to stay strong and whisper in his ear, โ€˜You can go now. We will be okay. We love [you]. Thank you. You can go back to God nowโ€™.

โ€œAll of us were around him, hugging and kissing him and holding his hands, chanting the Islamic prayer. All of his organs failed but his heart wouldnโ€™t stop beating.โ€

First published at 22.19 on Saturday, 4 June

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    Mute Caitrรญona Sheridan
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    Feb 7th 2012, 9:53 AM

    you could say the game was put on โ€œpawsโ€ while the feline made its way to the sideline!

    โ€” sorry!

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    Mute Gerard Murphy
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    Feb 7th 2012, 9:20 AM

    I think it was Trap who let the cat out of the sackโ€ฆ

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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Feb 7th 2012, 10:55 PM

    Lucky that pussy wasnโ€™t at Old Trafford. With Rooney and Giggs around, sheโ€™d definitely be f****d.

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    Mute andy kavanagh
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    Feb 7th 2012, 9:24 AM

    The cat was interviewed later on sky sports and claimed he just left his seat to get a hotdog and jumped over the wrong fence.

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    Mute Ferg Breen
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    Feb 7th 2012, 10:32 AM

    He was running away from Kennel Dog-leash

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    Mute Billygoatmuff
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    Feb 7th 2012, 9:34 AM

    Liverpools number 1 supPAWter. Iโ€™ll red thumb myself for that!

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    Mute Brian
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    Feb 7th 2012, 9:38 AM

    Anfield obviously has a vermin problem

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    Mute Billygoatmuff
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    Feb 7th 2012, 9:45 AM

    But cats and Dirks dispose of that issue!

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    Mute Fergal Lynch
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    Feb 7th 2012, 11:33 AM

    Heโ€™s lucky he wasnโ€™t a black cat with luis Suarez sitting on the bench. Could have gotten out of hand.. ;)

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    Mute Aleo
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    Feb 7th 2012, 10:18 AM

    Opposition to Ryanair spreads to the animal kingdom . . .

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    Mute Kieran Ross
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    Feb 7th 2012, 9:50 AM

    The cat was just looking for his beachball

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    Mute Andrew Brennan
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    Feb 7th 2012, 9:55 AM

    He literally covered every blade of grass and had the defense in sixes and sevens. He could have had a hat trick but he left his shooting boots in the dressing room. Liverpool are not a team to pussyfoot around.

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    Mute andy kavanagh
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    Feb 7th 2012, 9:30 AM

    The cat was later interviewed on Sky Sports and calmed he just left his seat to get a hotdog and must have jumped the wrong fence.

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    Mute jumpthecat
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    Feb 7th 2012, 10:33 AM

    Heard you the first time.

    Unfortunately.

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    Mute Paul Harvey
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    Feb 7th 2012, 2:18 PM

    Someone told him it was a milk cup game

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    Mute Shirley Cummings
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    Feb 7th 2012, 6:36 PM

    In 1 minute on the pitch he ran past more players than Downing has all season !

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