mole catcher 1 Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 Copied this from a news site Ultimate Fighting Championship star Evan Tanner has died in the desert east of San Diego, possibly of heat exposure. Shocking sports deaths Sports often give us our greatest moments of ecstasy. Sometimes they plunge us into tragedy. We pay tribute to the untimely deaths that stunned the sports world. Photos: Evan Tanner 1971-2008 Sheriff's Lt. George Moreno says the 37-year-old Tanner was found Monday about two miles from his campsite in a remote area of the Palo Verdes Mountains, where temperatures had reached 110 degrees. Moreno says a preliminary coroner's report suggests Tanner died of heat exposure. Tanner left for the desert last week to go camping and motorcycle riding. His agent, John Hayner, says Tanner called a friend on Wednesday to say the dirt bike had run out of gas. He was about 100 miles from the nearest town. "As an extreme ultimate fighter, practicing mixed martial arts, he really didn't define himself as being a fighter," Hayner told FOXNews.com. "He defined himself as being an adventurer, and he would fund his adventures through fighting." And Tanner has been thinking about risky adventures in recent months. "This summer he wanted to go kayaking from Alaska to California, and I said, 'Evan, that's incredibly dangerous; you could die out there," Hayner told FOXNews.com. "And he goes, 'Well, you could die anywhere.' "He always had this kind of concept [of], well, it sharpens your senses by being on a razor's edge with your life actually on the line." Tanner, 37, had blogged ominously about his trip into the desert to "cleanse." "I plan on going so deep into the desert, that any failure of my equipment, could cost me my life," he wrote on his journal for Spike TV. Evan Tanner. (Derek Hamilton / InsideFighting.com) Tanner is a former UFC champion middleweight. He lost his last bout in June. Tanner made his MMA debut in April of 1997 winning three fights in one night, including a win over Paul Buentello. His biggest fight came in February of 2001 when he challenged then UFC Light Heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz in the main event of UFC 30 but was knocked out in just 32 seconds. Tanner later moved down to 185 pounds and won the vacant UFC Middleweight Championship over David Terrell, but then lost the title in June of 2005 to Rich Franklin in a fight where the winner would also become one of the coaches for the 2nd season of "The Ultimate Fighter". The UFC signed Tanner to a four fight contract last November with the first fight of that contract taking place earlier this year in March at UFC 82 in Columbus, Ohio. He lost by KO to Yushin Okami and then suffered another loss in June to Kendall Grove by split decision on the TUF 7 Finale show in Las Vegas. Information from The Associated Press and FOXNews.com was used in this report. Get more MMA news at fightnetwork.com. MMA/Boxing HEADLINES Evans knocks out Liddell at UFC 88 Diaz wins split decision against Katsidis Prescott hands Khan first career loss WEC postpones bouts due to hurricane Boxing coach Campbell retires from team advertisement FOX SPORTS MMA/Boxing VIDEO Evans knocks out Liddell Rashad Evans stunned the MMA world with a devastating knock out over Chuck Liddell. Hear from both fighters about their battle. UFC 88 Press Conference Hear from Chuck Liddell, Rashad Evans, Rich Franklin and Matt Hamill as they prepare for their fights at UFC 88: Breakthrough. More FOX Sports Video > MORE THAN SPORTS on • Slideshow: See which celebs have the best beach bodies • Summertime brews: Top warm weather beers in America • Money tips: 10 things your bank probably won’t tell you FOX SPORTS STORE 2007 Upper Deck Collectibles NFL Peterbilt Tractor-Trailer - Jacksonville Jaguars $14.99 Sports Nebraska Cornhuskers 5-Time National Champions Leather Jacket $239 Cleveland Browns Black Running Back Hoody Sweatshirt $48.95 View the FOX Sports Store > advertisement Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest bigredbusa Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 god speed Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Chip Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 thought he was a class act exciting to watch, rip Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest buster321c Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 He was a tough cookie too , god bless to his folks Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest joe ox Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 Thats a terrible shame RIP. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mad al 146 Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 R.I.P Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kash 1 Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 a great shame & a greater loss he fought some very good fights R.I.P Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cupid Stunt 18 Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 (edited) A true character. Edited September 9, 2008 by Cupid Stunt Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jigsaw 11,899 Posted September 9, 2008 Report Share Posted September 9, 2008 What a shame,he came across as a very modest man in victory and defeat,GOD REST HIS SOUL Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Chip Posted September 10, 2008 Report Share Posted September 10, 2008 (edited) another tribute http://www.searchforvideo.com/watchclip.ph...van-tanner%252F Edited September 10, 2008 by Chip Quote Link to post Share on other sites
alimac 882 Posted September 10, 2008 Report Share Posted September 10, 2008 poor fecker >>>>> R I P ...... lets hope the ufc do something in his memorie... i guess his body would have been as prepared as any to cope with such heats, a sad loss to mma Quote Link to post Share on other sites
trappa 518 Posted September 10, 2008 Report Share Posted September 10, 2008 Bad news that. He went off the rails a year or so ago, drinking heavily and just bumming around, but got his act together just lately which makes it more ironic and twice as sad. Good fighter in his prime, a bit like samson i thought- with long hair he was great, got it cut and it went downhill. RIP Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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