Monday, September 8, 2008

UPDATED: Evan Tanner Dead at Age 37


From The Imperial Valley Press

UPDATE:CAGE POTATO CONFIRMS DEATH FROM HIS MANAGER
Hayner said that Tanner had gone into the desert on a motorcycle expedition and had run out of gas. Tanner was attempting to walk out of the desert, Hayner said, but apparently didn’t realize how far away from civilization he was and died of exposure in the triple-digit heat. Tanner’s empty campsite was spotted Sunday, and an aerial search located his body earlier this afternoon.

“Here was a famous UFC fighter who didn’t have enough food to eat at times. I’d call him just to make sure he had food in his fridge, but he never let it get him down. Starting over was kind of a theme in his life. He hardly ever lived in the same place more than six months,” Hayner said. “He moved out to Vegas and then found it too shallow for him, so he moved out to Oceanside and had a great place, he was learning to surf, and he was really enjoying his day-to-day life.”




A body was discovered in the Palo Verde mountain area on Monday, said Lt. George Moreno from Imperial County Sheriff's Department.

The Palo Verde mountain area is 60 miles northeast of Brawley.

Authorities have not confirmed if the body is that of missing mixed martial arts fighter, Evan Tanner, who had fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Tanner, 37, has been missing since last weekend.

Tanner's friends from Oceanside, where Tanner resides, had been texting him without reply since Wednesday before they reported him missing on Friday.

On Sunday, a campsite was discovered in the Clapp Springs area of the Palo Verde mountains. Tanner's motorcycle was found at the campsite. A body was found today when a sheriffs deputy was flying around the general location of the campsite.

The Imperial County deputy coroner is being flown in to retrieve and identify body.


This is what Tanner had to say on his last blog entry.
I plan on going so deep into the desert, that any failure of my equipment, could cost me my life. I’ve been doing a great deal of research and study. I want to know all I can about where I’m going, and I want to make sure I have the best equipment. One more week. I think one more week, and I’ll be ready to go.”


We can only hope it isn't true, but if it is, it is terrible news in the MMA community.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Everett Ruess. Look it up. Tanner has always reminded me of him. This just tops it off. RIP

tylr said...

This is tragic.

Anonymous said...

RiP Evan, He will always be one of my heroes

Anonymous said...

He was one of the best fighters when he was in his prime. Probably one of the best to utilize the triangle choke on his opponents. Sad to see him go like this.

P.N. said...

For $170 he could have had one of these things and he would have gotten assistance right away.

http://www.findmespot.com/Home.aspx

I feel for his family and friends, but it was just stupid to go out in the desert with no backup plan.