Prayer

Please send your prayer requests to us at mikeh@risenmma.com. All prayer requests are confidential (as long as they don't involve breaking the law).  Blessings! Mike

Evan Tanner, former UFC middleweight champion dies

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 said that authorities have recovered his 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. 

His friends last heard from him this past Wednesday, Sept. 3. A search for Tanner began on Saturday, when temperatures in the area reached nearly 115 degrees.

The Palo Verde mountain area is located in southern California near the Arizona border. 

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.

MMA Fighters and the FANS

Some of the common questions I get asked by MMA fans on the RISEN MySpace page (www.myspace.com/risenmma) is "how approachable" or "how nice are the fighters?  Fans especially want to know about the professional fighters they've seen on television and that are pictured on our MySpace.  I can say in nearly every instance, the MMA personalities we've come in contact with are very accommodating  to fans.  They'll stop and pose for a picture or sign an autograph. In the last 18 months, I can think of only one instance in which a fighter couldn't stop.  I won't mention his name but he was on his way to a live radio interview and had to go quickly through the crowd to make it on time.  Totally understandable. 

Many of the athletes go out of their way for fans. They're very close to their fan base and treat you as such.  Of course the more popular a fighter is, the bigger crowd or wait to meet them.  The more popular fighters usually have more interview and press to do, so that narrows the chances too.  I would suggest don't show up to a gym in hopes of meeting a fighter they train unless it is a media or fan day.  Fighters not only train for their own fights, but help train others to fight. 

Some of the most accommodating fighters/personalities we've met:

Rashad Evans (UFC) - Rashad hung out after a radio interview until every fan had a chance to meet him and get pictures if they wanted. I know, I'm a huge Evans fan and was one of the last people to meet him. 

Clay Guida  (UFC)  - Ditto for Clay.  He was fighting on the card the next night and was probably hungry and needed to rehydrate, yet he made his way patiently through the crowd stopping for every fan's request. 

Joe Rogan (UFC commentator) - Joe stayed for fans longer than anyone.  He's hilarious to be around. 

Kendall Grove  (UFC) -  Kendall was fighting the next night yet hung out for the fans. 

Wanderlai Silva (WEC) - The Axe Murderer was in a hurry AFTER the event was over (not the same guy as above).  However, if you would walk with him on his way out, he would stop when your camera was ready for a picture. 

Urijah Faber (WEC) and Miquel Torres (WEC)  hung around after a television interview (during an event) to pose for pictures. 

Brock Larson (WEC) - Brock is the ultimate nice guy.  He was excited to have his picture taken with fans after a quick win at WEC 35.

Dana White (UFC President) -  I witnessed him make his way around the cage between fights at WEC 35.  Dana posed for pictures and just chatted with the fans.  

Brian Bowles (WEC) -  I had the pleasure of sitting next to him on the flight out of Atlanta to Las Vegas.  From the very little talking we did, he was a nice dude and I later learned a devastating fighter. 

By the way, the best time to meet fighters is after weigh-ins or events. 

Mike

Risen Fight Ministry