Former UFC middleweight champ Evan Tanner dead at 37

MMA fans were shocked on Monday by the news that former UFC middleweight champion Evan Tanner had been found dead in the Evan TannerPalo Verde mountain area in California.  He had been camping in the area and was reported missing by friends over the weekend when text messages to Tanner went unacknowledged.  Tanner was 37.

Tanner was a native of the Texas panhandle, and was a pioneer in mixed martial arts.  He was one of the first top level fighters to emerge out of the growing regional MMA talent base in the 1990’s.  He was also one of the first fighters to add different components such as Muay Thai kickboxing and submissions to a solid amateur wrestling base.  The highlight of his UFC career was a victory over Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt David Terrill in 2002 that earned him the promotion’s middleweight championship.

He would experience ups and downs throughout the rest of his MMA career, but always remained a favorite with the fans.  Even in a sport of unique individuals, Tanner was one of a kind—an intelligent, articulate free spirit who looked at fighting as a personal challenge of the highest level.  Tanner battled demons such as alcoholism throughout his adult life and professional career, but his openness about his personal challenges endeared him to his fans all the more.

Tanner was camping in the harsh desert terrain of the Palo Verde Mountains at the time of his death.  Though no official cause of death has been determined, the current speculation is that he succumbed to the 115-118 degree heat after walking too far away from his campsite.   Tanner was an experienced outdoorsman, but friends report that he had run out of gas for his motorcycle and perhaps water and may have been trying to walk to civilization.

Evan Tanner will be remembered not only as a top notch fighter, but as a wild hearted free spirit with a kind nature and gentle soul.