An attorney who has represented veteran mixed martial arts fighter Kimo Leopoldo said the 41-year-old “surfaced” early Tuesday afternoon, hours after reports of his death spread like wildfire across the Internet.

Attorney Victor E. Hobbs of El Toro, Calif., said in a brief telephone interview, “Kimo has surfaced and that’s all I know right now.” He referred all questions to Ron Kort of New Era Fighting, who is either Leopoldo’s manager or his promoter.

Leopoldo’s alleged death was first reported on an Internet bulletin board. The erroneous report was quickly picked up by celebrity website TMZ.com, which ran a report claiming it “confirmed” the death. The post has since been pulled from the site. Numerous MMA websites jumped on the erroneous report, which was also reported by the New York Daily News and the Orange County Register.

Leopoldo, of Irvine, Calif., was sentenced by a California judge on Monday to 10 days of community service and required to participate in a drug diversion program. He had been arrested in February in Tustin, Calif., on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine.

The fighter’s most famous match was his MMA debut on Sept. 9, 1994, when he met Royce Gracie at UFC 3 in Charlotte, N.C. Leopoldo was the first fighter to give Gracie, the winner of the first two UFC tournaments, a real run for his money, before he lost via armbar submission.

He largely made his name off the notoriety from the Gracie fight. Leopoldo last fought in 2006 and has a record of 10-7-1.

Jim Amormino, the spokesman for the Orange County Sheriff’s coroner’s office, said he was unaware of Leopoldo’s death and demanded that a representative of Leopoldo’s who telephoned him bring Leopoldo to his office at 5 p.m. PST.

Amormino said a man who identified himself to Amormino as Leopoldo’s promoter, said he would do so.

“If he was dead in Orange County, I would know by now,” Amormino said slightly before 3 p.m. PST. “All deaths have to come to the coroner’s office. I’ve checked hospitals and numerous law enforcement agencies and no one has responded.”

Amormino said if Leopoldo and his promoter show up at 5 p.m., he would answer questions.

Kort was elusive when reached by Yahoo! Sports. He would not confirm whether Leopoldo was dead or alive, saying “that has to come from (Amormino).”

However, Kort’s words to Yahoo! Sports came after Amormino said he had already spoken to a Leopoldo representative.