MMA fighters who died in 2016

#3 Josh Samman

Samman engineered one of 2014’s best KOs

Another bright light blown out too soon, Josh Samman had fought five times in the UFC and was a partner in successful Florida MMA promotion, Combat Night. The 28-year-old Middleweight competed on season 17 of The Ultimate Fighter, the same edition that gave the UFC two of its major names, Kelvin Gastelum and the ever-watchable Uriah Hall. Samman entered the semi-final as the favorite, but was submitted by season winner Gastelum.

Samman and his friend, MMA commentator Troy Kirkingburg, were found in the latter’s apartment in Hollywood, Florida. Kirkingburg was found dead by the police and the cause, stated later, was an overdose of cocaine,heroin and ethanol. Samman was comatose for five days before he passed away. The cause of death is suspected to be the same as his friend, but a toxicology examination was not performed due to lack of suitable specimens, according to the Medical Examiner.

Since the death of his girlfriend, Hailey Bevis, in 2013, Samman battled addicition, injuries and depression stemming from her passing. His conscience tormented him following the tragedy, because both of them were texting when Bevis met with an accident that took her life. It is chronicled it in his book “The Housekeeper: Love, Death and Prizefighting”.

Samman made a fairytale comeback in 2014, when he head kicked Eddie Gordon into oblivion. He dedicated the win to his late girlfriend. It is considered one of the best KOs of 2014. Here’s a video: