10 tragic deaths in MMA

#4 Evan Tanner

Evan Tanner

Evan Tanner's prodigious wrestling ability was evidenced by two Texas State Championships after just a couple of years of training. He would channel that into formidable ground skills in MMA, which at a time when fighters weren't very versatile, meant a quick rise to the top.

Tanner was the first American to win the Pancrase Neo Blood tournament and the only USWF Heavyweight champion. He won the vacant UFC Middleweight Championship by beating David Terrell at UFC 51, but lost his first title defense to Rich Franklin. This loss marked a drastic change of fortunes, as Franklin dropped three of his next four fights and developed an alcohol dependence.

In August-September 2008, Tanner went on what appeared as a soul-searching journey into the California desert. Those who were aware expressed concern because he was venturing into it alone and with minimal equipment. Tanner kept friends updated about his whereabouts in the desert, but these calls stopped a little into his first day of the trip, September 3rd.

When temperatures reached 48 degrees and Tanner's calls had stopped, his friends reported him missing. Tanner's body was found near a spring where he had intended to collect water, but which, had alas gone dry. The cause of death was ruled as heat stroke. It was cruelly ironic that many bottles of water and his bike were found back at his campsite.