Nick Diaz smoking a bowl and telling street fight stories in spandex.
When not getting DUI’s or getting caught with Coke in vegas Paris Hilton keeps in shape by training with MMA fighter Gabe Ruediger
MMA-Fighter.com sends it’s sincerest condolences to all of Evans family and friends.
“I believe there are people out there that just have a warrior spirit, whether it’s fighting or something, they’ve got to do it. It’s hard to identify with me; it’s just something I do.” —Evan Tanner, 2005
Evan Tanner, a former UFC middleweight champion and one of MMA’s most popular fighters, was found dead in the Palo Verde mountain area of California today.
He was 37 years old.
A friend of Tanner’s told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that authorities have recovered the body. Kyria McBrayer, who also assisted the popular fighter with his “Team Tanner” fan/sponsorship club, said she received the unfortunate news today.
Calls to the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office were not immediately returned, but according to a report from the Imperial Valley Press, a campsite, which included Tanner’s motorcycle, was recently discovered. A sheriff’s deputy found Tanner’s body when searching the mountain’s Clapp Springs area, according to the report.
The cause and other details of Tanner’s death were not immediately known.
Tanner (32-8 MMA, 12-5 UFC), a Texas native who won a state high school wrestling title in 1989, turned an MMA professional in 1997 and began his career with a stellar 19-1 record to earn his way into the UFC.
Tanner, who claimed he learned much of the sport from instructional tapes and DVDs, received his first UFC title shot in 2001 but suffered a quick first-round knockout to then-UFC light heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz. However, after going 7-1 in his next eight fights and dropping to the middleweight division, Tanner defeated David Terrell for the organization’s vacant 185-pound title in February 2005.
His championship reign would be a short one, though; Rich Franklin defeated Tanner in his very next fight.
After the loss, Tanner fought twice more for the organization before taking a nearly two-year break from competition. During the time away, Tanner began work on a charity to provide a home, training and support system for disadvantaged athletes, but he ultimately scrapped the idea soon after the home opened. Also during the break, Tanner authored a popular blog on his official website that discussed everything from his travels to the restoration of a sail boat to his battle with alcohol addiction.
In November 2007, though, Tanner confirmed he had signed a new four-fight deal with the UFC and was returning to competition. Tanner shunned corporate sponsorships and instead implemented Team Tanner, which allowed fans to sponsor him directly. Fans were rewarded with gear, memorabilia and other items depending on the amount paid.
Tanner fought twice after signing the deal. He suffered a knockout loss to Yushin Okami in March, and in his most recent fight, he headlined The Ultimate Fighter 7 Finale against “TUF 3″ winner Kendall Grove. Tanner lost a close split decision at the June event, and MMAjunkie.com was later told he was trying to fight through injuries at the event.
Just prior to that most recent fight, Tanner became a blogger for Spike.com. The popular online journal chronicled all aspects of his life. His final post was dated Sept. 2.
In an Aug. 16 entry, Tanner discussed his plans to camp out in a California desert as a sort of a spiritual journey. Many readers voiced concern that he expected only to bring the bare necessities.
“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,” Tanner wrote. “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.”
In his final post last week, he talked about training at the Compound MMA camp in Oceanside, Calif., and surfing at the local beach.
We’ll have more on this story as information becomes available.
MMAjunkie.com sends it deepest and sincerest condolences to the family and fellow friends and fans of Evan Tanner.
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The heavyweight fight between Aleksander Emelianenko and Paul Buentello scheduled for Saturday’s Affliction debut event has been canceled. Bill Douglas of the California State Athletic Commission sited that Emelianenko did not meet his licensing requirements.
SubFighter Mission Viejo CA 02-08-2008 – Nam Phan talks about his upcoming fight with Saad Awaad as Gladiator Challenge Evolution on Feb 16 2008.
Nam also talks about his future with Strikeforce and if he would make the cut down to 145. 714.260.8886 Johnny for Tickets.
Special thanks to Big Headed Freak for editing the Video.
Anahiem California 10/02/2007 – Nam Phan talks about his upcoming fight with Shad Smith on October 6, at Extreme Fighters World Championships: Untamed.
Nam also talks about his contract with Strikeforce, his Boxing Career, and his grappling match with Cub Swanson.
Saturday July 21, 2007 – The Ontario Convention Center
Cerritos College assistant wrestling coach Jesse Juarez grinded out a 5 round Unanimous Decision against heavily favored Jaime Fletcher. Fletcher did his best to keep the fight on its feet but Juarez’s superior wrestling turned out to be the deciding factor in the fight. Each round resembling the last with Juarez faking a punch then taking Fletcher down with a single. Riding out each 3 minute round with ease Juarez’s only scare was in the final stanza when Jaime latched on an armbar and a triangle attempt but each submission was avoided with a slam. With his first win at IFC he becomes the events first Middleweight champ.
After an unusually quick standup Lee Chapman knocked out Mike Penafiel at 1:10 gone by in the First.
Ben Jones landed some big shots early but couldn’t recover from a hard groin shot from his opponent Nick Braker in the first. Jones complained of discomfort between rounds but still came out for the second. Jones once again landed a few good shots early but the groin shot took its toll allowing Braker to take Jones to the mat. After a brief struggle Braker was able to get Ben’s back and the Rear Naked Choke at 1:59 in the second.
Team Punishment trained Travis McRoberts started slow but ended strong in his fight with Bobby Sanchez. The fighters were warned at the end of the first round and made up for it in the second engaging in an intense grappling match that left McRoberts fighting off a Rear Naked Choke. McRoberts escaped the choke got back to his feet and countered with a choke of his own; a jumping guillotine. Sanchez attempted to escape but quickly tapped after the fighters went to the mat. McRoberts get a much needed win by Submission at 1:09 in the second.
Maurice Douchette won by KO after he landed a hard right to the chin of John George with only 22 seconds gone by in the first.
In MMA-Fighters fight of the night Emre Ozgur eeked out a close decision against Joseph Silva. The heavyweights exchanged a few kicks before crowd favorite Emre secured a takedown. Emre moved to full mount and hammered down numerous rights as the crowd roared.
A battered George survived the first and came out strong landing some heavy shots as Emre once again took the fight to the mat. After Emre fought off a guillotine attempt he was swept by George who ended the round in Emre’s guard.
With a renwewd vigor Silva came out in the third looking to show the judges that the first round was a fluke. Silva landed one hard right after another to the face of a visibaly tired Ozgur but Emre not be out done fired back landing a right of his own. The round ended with Silva landing a hard one two to the face of Emre. The once Pro Emre crowd booed as Emre was granted the Descion. Abe Belardo 28-28, Gene Lebell 29-28, Luis Cobian 29-27.
Miguel Linares defeated Pete Sabala won by Rear Naked Choke at 1:22 in the second.
In the most unusual fight of the night Bryan Joplin defeated Nick Willert via TKO at :14 in the second but Joplin wasn’t done fighting. After getting dropped with a right and hammered by a few lefts from the turtle Nelson Hamilton stopped the fight and Joplin went off to celebrate. Hamilton looking to help Joplin was dragged to the ground with a judo throw from a visibly dazed Joplin. Joplin took side mount and continued to hold Hamilton down as officials rushed into the cage stood nick up then fought off more takedown attempts from a still dazed Willert. After Willert came to he profusely apologized to a good natured Hamilton.
Full results
Bryan Joplin Nick Willert TKO 1 0:14
Randy Bowers Ernie Calma Submission (Guillotine Choke) 2 0:56
Miguel Linares Pete Sabala Submission (Rear Naked Choke) 2 1:22
Emre Ozgur Joseph Silva Decision (Majority) 3
Maurice Doucette John George KO 1 0:22
Travis McRoberts Bobby Sanchez Submission (Guillotine Choke) 2 1:09
Nick Braker Ben Jones Submission (Rear Naked Choke) 2 1:59
Lee Chapman Mike Penafiel KO 1 1:10
Jesse Juarez Jaime Fletcher Decision (Unanimous) 5
Fatal Femmes Fighting 2 Girls Night Out Review – Lisa Ward Retains Flyweight title against Taeko Nagamine.
Former Collegiate wrestler Lisa Ward defended her title with a submission against last minute opponent Taeko Nagamine. Her original fight would have featured a rematch with Smack Girl veteran Misaki Takimoto who was submitted by a Kimura in their previous encounter. In the Headlining match Ward wasted no time taking the over matched Nagamine to the mat with a crowd awing slam. Ward moved to mount forcing Nagamine to give up her back after landing a hard elbow. Ward showed poise as she softened up Nagamine with strikes and sunk in the rear naked choke getting that tap at 2:37 in the first.
In the Co main event Megumi Yabushita took on last minute opponent Ginelle Marquez. With Josh Barnett in her corner Marquez dominated every facet of the fight on her way to a lopsided unanimous decision (30-27, 30-24, 30-26). The always exciting Yabushita tried to keep the fight on its feet by throwing unorthodox punches and avoiding the clinch but Ginelle would get the best of these exchanges gaining the clinch and the takedown. Late in the third it looked as if Yabushita was done when Marquez had her back and was hammering down rights as the crowd and photographer’s row hoped for the stoppage. Yubushita showing grit and toughness remarkably rolled to her back and stood up as she was able to hang for the Judge’s decision. Marquez tacked on an impressive win to her resume taking the fight with only 10 days notice.
Brazilian Vanessa Porto displayed why she is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Champion winning by armbar against former collegiate wrestling champion Tonya Evinger. Similar to her previous Fatal Femmes fight with Brittany Pullem Evinger landed a right that sent her opponent to the mat. Tonya pounced looking to finish but Porto swept her and moved to mount. With out throwing a single punch Porto methodically setup the armbar and subsequently secured it getting the tap at 2:14 in the first.
Angela Samaro dominated Fatal Femmes veteran Crystal Harris by armbar at 1:08 in second round.
Jessica Penne won her second Fatal Femmes match by defeating Sumie Sakai. Penne was taken down repeatedly by Sakai but was able to take advantage of Sakai’s scarf hold by taking her back each time the fight went to the mat. After several unsuccessful rear naked choke attempts from Sakai’s back in the first and second Penne was able to transition to armbar from Sakai’s back in the third and get the tap at O:33.
Sophie Bagerdai ran over Stephanie Palmer winning at 1:07 in the first. Palmer injured her foot early in the fight and was taken out of the ring in a stretcher.
Teammates collided when Yoko Takahashi tapped out Keiko Tomai by what looked to be a pro wrestling leg lock at 2:27 in the first.
Full Results
1 Yoko Takahashi over Keiko Tamai by Submission Rd 1 @ 2:27
2 Sophie Bagherdai over Stephanie Palmer by TKO 1 1:07
3 Jessica Pene over Sumi Sakai by Submission (Armbar) 3 @ 0:33
4 Angela Samaro over Crystal Harris by Submission (Armbar) 2 @ 1:08
5 Vanessa Porto over Tonya Evinger by Submission (Armbar) 1 @ 2:14
6 Ginelle Marquez over Megumi Yabushita by Decision (Unanimous) 3 @ 3:00
7 Lisa Ward over Taeko Nagamine by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) 1 @ 2:37
Brad Doerges
brad@mma-fighter.com
