Imperial County, CA—Just east of San Diego, UFC future Hall of Famer and former champion, Evan Tanner, born 2/11/1971, was found dead within the last few hours.
While the exact cause of death is not clear, one thing which is confirmed according to sources close to the scene is that this was not a suicide.
Many Internet rumors and chatter began to swirl around, suggesting Evan predicted and/or planned to end his own life. This is simply not true.
This incredibly tough and respectable fighter recently began a new training and nutrition regimen, prepared a new line of shirts to be sold, and as recently as today received a UPS delivery of a helmet intended to protect him when cycling.
None of these behaviors are even remotely suggestive of someone who had been planning to take his life.
- B/R Ticket Guide
John Hayner, CEO of DFS Sports (Driving Force Sports) and a close friend of Evan's, had been in contact with him very recently and also made it clear that he did not see one red flag that the man was looking to escape his life. According to Mr. Hayner, Evan Tanner was making changes and improvements to his lifestyle and health that were the acts of a true champion.
Evan was apparently in transit in the desert when his vehicle failed him and his cellular signal eventually did the same.
This is a great loss to MMA, sports, and to those who were fortunate enough to know and love this man. Evan Tanner is a former UFC Middleweight and USWF Heavyweight champion with a professional record of 32 wins and eight losses. Evan was also the first American to be victorious at the Pancrase Neo-Blood tournament in Tokyo, Japan.
He won his very first championship by defeating Heath Herring at USWF 7, and subsequently successfully defended that title five times. Tanner then won the UFC Middleweight title at UFC 51, stopping the rugged David Terrell with a barrage of strikes in the very first round.
Evan Tanner will be remembered for his talents, passion, and a level of likability that stood in defiance of anyone who judged the athletes of MMA as brutal men who merely came off of a bar stool to fight.
He will be missed.
YACMAN
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2 months ago
May he rest in peace.
2 months ago
If it is confirmed as his body than I just lost one of my favorite fighters in the UFC. I can remember the day he said he was coming back I was so excited to see him fight again and hopefully make it to the top. I am in absolute shock right now. I refuse to believe this was a suicide and whether or not it was I dont think I can bring my self to believe it.
God Bless Evan Tanner and his family. He is a UFC legend and will be truly missed.
2 months ago
Per Tanner's blog on his Aug. 16 he talked about his plans to camp out in a California desert as a sort of a spiritual journey.
"I've been gathering my gear for this adventure for over a month, not a long time by most standards, but far too long for my impatient nature. Being a minimalist by nature, wanting to carry only the essentials, and being extremely particular, it has been a little difficult to find just the right equipment. I plan on going so deep into the desert that any failure of my equipment could cost me my life."
How many times to we hear words like that in our lives, but those words never carry weight until something like this happens.
from 2 months ago
i noticed they have Eddie Vedder on his MySpace "Into the Wild" . was this before or after his death?, i think in the movie thats what happens, the guy goes into the wild and dies. just wondering, because that would be odd.
from 2 months ago
In the book the guy goes into the Alaskan Wilderness (he's actually pretty close to soceity distance wise, but still completely removed) with the bare minimum and supplies and dies after about 3 months. Great book...
I don't think I ever realized how much I respect and like Evan Tanner until I read the article on him at ufc.com. This is really sad. I'm betting that he already had the "Into the Wild" soundtrack on his myspace. It's one of my favorite CDs. I put it into my laptop and began listening right after reading the article on him. Crazy stuff. R.I.P Evan.
2 months ago
Being an existentialist like Evan, I hope any revelations his journey brought to him gave him great peace at the end of his life. I feel like I have lost a member of my famly. Too soon, Evan, much too soon! You have left a hole in our lives.
2 months ago
The Evan Tanner death came as a big surprise, not only because he was only 37 years old, but also because on his Spike TV blog, Tanner wrote last month he was going to the desert and he planned on going so deep into the desert, that any failure of his equipment could cost him his life. Found this at http://specialreport.com/evan-tanner-dead-ufc-fighter/
2 months ago
The Evan Tanner death came as a big surprise, not only because he was only 37 years old, but also because on his Spike TV blog, Tanner wrote last month he was going to the desert and he planned on going so deep into the desert, that any failure of his equipment could cost him his life. Found this at Special Report
2 months ago
Evan was a true MMA fighter and an ambassador of the sport. RIP Evans.
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