“I plan on going so deep into the desert, that any failure of my equipment, could cost me my life.”
– Evan Tanner, August 18, 2008
It appears that former UFC middleweight champion Evan Tanner predicted his own death less than one month ago.
The Imperial County Sheriff’s Department today discovered the dead body of a man in the Palo Verde, Calif., mountain area. And it is indeed Tanner.
MMAmania.com has placed several calls to the Imperial County Sheriff’s Department and we have been unable to confirm or deny the report. However, it has been confirmed by several people close to Tanner.
Here’s a snip from IVPressOnline.com:
“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 truly a a huge loss. He was a pioneer of the sport who had his own unique approach to fighting and to life.
He was an adventure seeker, documenting his travels in great detail on his personal blog and on Spike.com. Tanner recently overcame a dark period in his life and a battle with alcohol.
His life was an open book, which either turned fans in his favor or against him. Tanner didn’t really care one way or the other how people felt — he did things his way.
He recently returned to the Octagon to recapture some of the glory from earlier in his fighting career; however, he lost his first two comeback bouts.
Tanner mentioned that he was going to take some time off and address some injuries that had been hampering him for the past several years. In the meantime, he continued his nomadic ways. While terribly tragic and entirely premature, it’s perhaps a poetic end for one of the most eccentric fighters the sport has ever known.
Rest in peace, Evan.
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No way…Tanner is the MAN
Hope this isn’t true
Lets hope Tanner is ok! But dam, if they found his motorcycle at the campsite and hes been missing…..
HEY MANIA can you post a link to the original story you guys had where Tanner talks about planning his trip into the desert???
Poor Tanner. Guy was getting his life together. I hope by some miracle this isnt him. Doesnt look good though.
Its in the post already … right under the top quote.
if it was him r.i.p. evan, i hope it wasn’t.
getting his life together????? a suicide trip deep into the desert is not getting it together.
People have been testing the survival of man and themselves since time began. So joining the military or anything else for that matter that leads to possibly meeting your demise can not be seen as a positive motion? This is no different, so what he had more balls than you or I and tried to defy the odds. It wasn’t suicide just a dangerous expedition that he was very aware of being as dangerous as it may prove to have been. It is not like he slit his wrist or shot himself. If this proves to be him he showed me what a tough s.o.b. really is!
If this is the way Tanner wanted to go out, then so be it… I wish he didn’t, but if life was too unbearable for him, then at least he went out in his own way… R.I.P Tanner, you were a joy to watch Fight, thanks for the great memories.
I was always a Tanner fan no matter what, and I always enjoyed to watch his fights R.I.P. you were the man Evan
Just looked at some more of his blogs he actually sounded like he had it all together.Nothing wrong with wanting to see something no one else has ever seen it sounded like a awsome thing. I feel sorry for the family of who it was .My guess is that it will be evan,even thogh I didn’t know the man i Admire the hell out of the man.I hope he founf what he was looking for . Here’s to you Evan.
UFC WEBSITE HAS CONFIRMED EVERYTHING
Hope he finally has peace, but it didn’t sound to me like he had his life together to be honest. Going out and gambling everything away, then mooching off of close ones. I think he was going from one destructive pattern to another. A lot of people go from Alcohol to another addiction, they aren’t getting it together, they’re simply destroying themself through other means.
Of course this is based on 4 posts I’ve read here on Mania, so I probably know very little, just what it seems. And for what it’s worth, Rest in Peace Evan, hopefully you’ll be able to sort things out in your next life.
RIP Tanner. THanks for the memories, I will always be a fan!
RIP Evan Tanner.
My brother called me last night with the sad news…
I am happy to see that the haters are keeping to themselves in this thread, for the most part.
RIP Evan Tanner.
Only the good die young…
yes usually if its not him they will say no its not evan tanner i pretty much assume he is dead right now.
not a smart move by evan at all going into the desert.
I think I commented that this would happen in the first thread but at least he died doing what he wanted to do.
I wonder just how close to the campsite his body was found?
R.I.P Evan Tannner. I hope to see a UFC tribute in your name.. soon on spike.
GOD BLESS YOU
Ufc.com Comferms, it was Tanner So Does TMZ
He was one of the toughest men, from the town i call home, to bad i didn’t know him better i’m 32 and i was untested verses caprock, but his picture and plaques were in the trophy case as big as martin approdacia,a 3 time state champ for caprock just like the RANDALL trophy case where my 3 titles are! sorry to the tanner family!! thank ya’ll for for his memory. fan in AMARILLO,TEXAS and state champ like your son. GOD SPEED!!!
please no.
Some people just aren’t cut out for life on the road…
lmao?
you’re laughing your ass that this man is most likely dead?
you my friend are an unfathomable piece of shit. hopefully you meet your demise ASAP so somebody can laugh at you and return the favor.
put me on the volunteer list for that job.
i was laughing at my use of the line from dumb and dumber, i was laughing at the way Lloyd says it.
dude, chill out.
Tanner was an explorer. Someone who obviously liked to test his limits and experience everything the world has to offer. I respect him so much for that as I feel a lot like he does about nature and about needing to test yourself to really feel alive and fulfill one’s life. hopefully I get the chance to do some of the shit he got to do….
What an awsome road Evan has traveled. I’ve been lucky to have known him and how lucky he is… to have lived the adventurous life he has. I can only hope that when it’s my time I’m doing something that I enjoy.
RIP Evan. you will be missed. say hello to my pops while your up there please!
celebrate all the good , evan tanner was a pioneer mma icon
ecentric and an alcoholic in recovery, he died doing what he loved and he died sober with dignity, god speed evan, say hello to all your hero’s gone before you, and we shall meet in time
I am still in total shock. Evan was a dear friend to me, we both moved to Oregon the same day to train with team quest. I was living at the gym & sleeping on the mats. Evan & his girlfriend at the time, (Danita) took me into to their home for a couple of months. Evan & I really bonded we were kindred spirits. He would do just about anything for anyone. He embodied the True Bushido warrior spirit. Thats why I truly feel the greatest tragedy surrounding this event is that many people might not have understood what Evan tried to
convey to the world through his vulnerability, sincerity, honesty & purity of heart.
Many seek to be warriors very few have the real courage to walk the true path.
Evan Tanner lived his life as a true warrior, he also died a warriors death searching for his truth. May god finally grant you the peace you deserve my brother.
See you in the next round
Adelophos Adelopho
i loved his fights he died died like he fought .hard “”
rest in peace evan ,i hope they have a bout for you in heaven mate.
Jesus!
Christ!
Almighty!
God!
In Heaven!
Amen!
Ballgina!
Mary & Joseph!
Jesus, Joseph and doggy-style Mary!!
God Bless Baby Jesus!
Santa Claus?
boobies?
wtf is wrong with you guys? Show respect in this thread.
Ease up. If i went down, i would want people to at least be able to find a laugh here and there(hey remember the time tom crapped his pants while trying to lift that tire? hahaha) . Who wants to watch down from above seeing everyone you knew, and even people you didnt know being sad all the damn time.
My prayers go out to you, Tanner. God bless his soul, dead or alive.
Holy crap! That is awful. Well, at least that is how he wanted to go out.
Wow - that is crazy if it is.
Its confirmed..
A friend of Tanner’s told MMAjunkiecom 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.
“What we were told is that (sheriff’s officials who found him) believe his motorcycle had run out of gas, so he went to walk out in like 115 to 118-degree heat,” said Vincitorio. “He was miles away from his camp. That’s where the helicopter found him. Right now, they just think that he succumbed to the heat.”
too many coincidence, it is gotta be him, goodbye man.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will be in tears if this is true.
God bless his soul.
Zack I am in tears right now.
No way…… this is horrible.
I’m with you Wanderlei fan. But deep inside, I know this ain’t true. He’ll show up, don’t worry…
Thanks man
Damn… this is horrible news.
Craziness.
WTF! His friends knew he was a nut case, they knew he was doing something totally bizzare. Why was more of an effort not made to ensure his safety. I would hate to have that on my conscience if he was my friend.
He was/is a grown man.
Looks like I’m a little late to the Wake here. Shocking news. Thoughts go out to his friends and family. This looks like it’s going to be a tough one for them. I really hope some of those reports about Evan texting his friends for help aren’t true. Because just as an MMA fan, I was more than a little concerned about Mr. Tanner when I read his last stuff about risking his life in the desert. As others have said, he definitely lived a lot in his 37 years. I mean, how many guys can say they were a friggin’ champion in the UFC. The guy lived out every MMAManiac’s dream.
And, I mean no disrespect, but are you going to be all right belfort_fan?
Oh, and finally, I don’t think that the word “seriously” needs to be included in the title of this article. I think it actually comes across as a little crass. Of course you aren’t joking.
The UFC has a great Post on Evan By Thomas Gerbasi here,
http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=news.detail&gid=14429
Good Stuff, lots of Evan’s own words.
RIP
damn.. just damn
Doesnt sound good, we all should reserve opinion until more information surfaces though.
But wow… what a thought
thats f@king crazy lets hope its not him…
I hope it’s not true.
What a catastrophe to the MMA community this would be if indeed true. I hope he’s ok and it was somebody else of lesser value
who would be of lesser value? a life is a life.
What are you talking about?
Thats fucked up Don.
Me to but this just might be the saddest I have ever been about MMA.
Man im really heart broken… Its been confirmed… I wish u were still in Taft… this is so surreal.
I am Truly hurt and will never be the same ever I got wasted last night and poured half a bottle of Soko out for Tanner I will never forget that Face.
Tanner I Love You Man God Rest Your Soul.
Yeah i tossed and turned thinking about evan just about all night last night.
On his blog he talked about how excited he was about this trip and how he had been researching all aspects of desert survival.
Here is a link to his blog post about the trip. http://www.spike.com/blog/treasure-hunting-in/67570
Quote:
“I’m hoping that very soon I’ll be sitting out in the quiet of the desert beneath a deep blue midnight sky, listening to the calm desert breeze. The idea going into the desert came to me soon after I moved to Oceanside. It was motivated by my friend Sara’s talk of treasure hunting and lost gold, and my own insatiable appetite for adventure and exploration. I began to imagine what might be found in the deep reaches of the untracked desert. It became an obsession of sorts.”
seeing that blog entry and seeing those pictures of his motorcycles reminded me that he was at that ufc harley davidson convention…. how long ago was that??
Something tells me it’s true he was devastated that he couldn’t compete in ufc anymore.
dude it wasn’t just the ufc, his life has had its ups and downs.
could you compete in anything in your life??? evan could!!!
god rest his sole or who ever it is that is dead, in the dessert.
pray for him and our troops and all that we have lost and not forgotten.
i hope its not him either, but the evidence sounds telling.
wow, this is shocking….it’s a sad day in mma
Why is it sad for MMA? Would it be sad for MMA if it were Gabe Rudiger? Or Andy Wang? Thought not.
All do respect to those two……. they were not pioneers of the sport. Why even comment if you are just going to be a prick about it. Besides other than you and one other imbecile on here, everyone else is paying their respects.
Any Death is sad u prick! and Maybe cause at one time he was a UFC champ.Mania ban this prick or take his post off
78 wasnt talking t u was talikn to bloody show
LOL… why bring up those knuckleheads, Tanner was a champion and one of the MMA pioneer in his time… no comparision.
lets pray for the person who was found tanner or not , god rest their sole.
if tanner you will not be forgotten in our hearts and soles, you to me was like a soldier over seas, never dtoped, never looked back, and allways remembered where you came from and going.
peace love and shed a tear for tanner
Wow, what a tragedy!
This guy seemed a tormented soul. I can’t say I’m surprised.
But I am certainly sorry.
He actually (was)is a very talented story teller.
Actually looked forward to reading his take on the world, but maybe the way people look at a car wreck or something.
I feel guilty…although I don’t know how I could have changed anything…helpless feeling…
What a waste…
Somethin’ tells me Tanner is still alive. Just wait, he’ll surface up to the mainstream real soon. Right now he’s just deep underground, hiding from all the BS this world has to offer…
souds like it is going to be his body they found…I wonder what the cause of death will be? Starvation/dehydration? some kind of poisnesous bite? Exposure? I was hoping to see Tanner rack up a couple of wins in the octagon before retiring for good. This is a tragedy if it is indeed him, if not then I am sorry for the person it is as well.
wow i really hope this isnt true
At least it wasnt someone important! Jk too soon?
wasn’t soon enough
you key board f#$#$ junkie….I am his roommate…and if you had half the balls to live your life and fullfill your dreams like Evan….do that then post a comment you asswipe
Roommate? dang are you going to be able to make rent?
bloodymess I just figured out why you call yourself that. Its from all of the blarting that you do.
Blart- a bloody fart usually caused by to much anal penatration.
LOL at Lee’s Comment.
F ing Prick
You SOB’s need to go to hell!! How can you say something like that about evan???
dude the news just came out and ur making jokes. thats just disrespectful man
dude the news just came out and ur making jokes. thats just disrespectful man
Just a little….. just an ounce of respect please.
Get a sense of humor Ruan jeez! It was Evan Tanner for Chr*st Sake!
hey man i cant see the funny side about the news of finding a body, but please tell me cos i feel am missing out
Who the hell makes jokes about some one dieing you seriously need ur ass handed to you
And I suppose you think YOUR the one to do it ?
Right… its just kinda too early man.
BlOodyMess, this is not like when Evan Tanner wreck his boat and the jokes flew (even though all his worldly possesions sunk) at least I could understand why the jokes were rampant. BUT, this is different, he never hurt anyone outside of the ring besides himself. Maybe if someone u cared about or admired or maybe even just liked took their own life… u would have a better respect about when jokes r appropriate and when they arent. Unless ur a sociopath which would explain your lack of empathy. Maybe u just havent experienced enough life to understand any of this,,, but u eventually will… I guarantee it.
I for one don’t feel sorry for Tanner, if life was too much for him and this is the way he wanted to go out.. then Rest In Peace. I always liked and somewhat admired the guy… I’m a long time MMA fan since UFC 1 and at a time when Evan Tanner was a Champion he was one easy going guy and liked by many… so now that he isn’t a Champion, broke and dead… we should make jokes about him?..
C’mon BloodyMess, Sorry for the lecture… but ur a cooler cat than this.
Hey BlOodyMess, I guarente I would beat you into a BLOODYMESS!!!!
You would? If what? I bet a bullet would kill you! So what? You’ll never see me Vitor fan
Lucky you!!!!!!!!!
If what… If i were to ever see you. your a disrespecrfull piece of crap. and i would knock your lights out! Your lucky i would never see you.
Come on man, you mean you would try, you have no idea who I am or what I’m capable of. For all you know I would lay you down right next Tanner and start making jokes about you online!
mania why do you not restrict this guys comments you gotta stop idiots like this creep from posting here!
this is the ultimate disrespect! evan was crazy and wild but that dont mean its cool to insult the dead.
and to bloodymess i bet you never even been in a fight in your life man! definatly not. i bet you have big brothers who didnt let people fight you. but talk shit like this to someone like me on the street you would go home a bloody mess trust me
Trust and beleive Bloodymess, that if we ever met you would be taking a knap.. iv fought the best… and you would be no exeption.
You do not have to like or respect Evan but for his family and friends, please stop all of this negative B.S. I don’t believe he meant this to happen. If you would do a bit of research, you would find that yes, he was fighting his own demons, but because of that he was helping others cope with their own problems. He was a good man with a good heart. Let those without sin cast the first stone. Please show some respect for his friends and family.
“At least it wasnt someone important!”
can’t wait to say that to your friends and family when you die you sick asshole
Yo AJ, JK means joking you simple human being.
gee thanks for the lesson in internet lingo BM, i had no idea what jk meant.
so just to make sure i’ve got this right, adding “just kidding” to something completely vile and insensitive makes it ok? OMFG ROFL, now i get it!!!
and you call me simple….
WOuld love to beat ur head in any day
So who’s worse DBG ( and i’m assuming that stands for DoucheBaG), me for making a joke about a tragedy or you for wanting to beat in someone’s head for making a joke?? I would have to say that you have some emotional problems that could be approprietly addressed in some counseling or therapy sessions. I wish you luck in a speedy recovery from what must be a tough condition to live in. After all it would break my heart if I were to here that You pulled an Evan Tanner and went out to off yourself.
You dont make jakes about Evan Tanner… He was respected by alot of people! A true pioneer of the sport. He dies and you make jokes about it… Not very funny. its actually sick and very rude! I would break your nose!
Jokes***
BloodyMess, smoke a joint watch old Evan Tanner fights with John Denver Songs as background… Mellow Out!
In the immortal words of Dean Vernon Wormer:
“Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life son”…
Someone should have told Tanner
Bloodymess-
I feel sorry for you if you want all this attention.
You never post anything intelligent about MMA, anyway.
Its ok to troll but when you come up again you will become a target…
BloodyMess, now we’re telling u…
Comment by OJR = Best post in this thread. An actual INTELLIGENT view of Machida’s skills as a fighter. Thank you.
That was the last time you addressed me OJR regarding a Machida post. So go ahead and disagree with my sense of humor and a tastless joke, but for you to try to insult me by claiming I dont post intelligently just kinda makes your dis transparent. This Community has NO SENSE OF HUMOR!
:’(
Not good…I really hope this is not true.
um ya a little to soon i think….evan was a badass, he will be missed.
Oh no i really hope he turns up alive. This would be very sad.
Is anyone really surprised? Tanner was/is a walking tragedy.
In recent years his only defining quality was his ability acquire pity from those around him as well as his fans with stories of his constant misfortune. I sure don’t wish death on anyone, but I had tired long ago of his “woe is me” attitude that constantly resonated from every quote.
Although he never denied accountability, his actions sure spoke otherwise because someone sincerely taking responsibility doesn’t typically have the need to constantly tell the world about their misfortunes at every turn.
What a shame. At least his sad story will be put to rest and true MMA fans can revert back to remembering him for his once great career long ago.
i agree and dis agree but he was a talented fighter and a person of people had intrest in but gives you no way to dog his person . i like tanner and tito , tito has issues. but a good fighter and person. everyone has issues.
So what if he didn’t hide his misfortunes , he was an open book. He didn’t hide behind a facade like most people in the spotlight and make it seem as if he was perfect until someone else outed him. He let everyone know who the Real Evan Tanner was. Something I think deserves respect.
I kind of agree; although I hate to admit it.
sorry to tanner family if it is indeed…rip E.T.
Evan was a badass, self taught, former champion, hope this isn’t him…
noneed4yourpost
Holy crap!
Please no.
damn. i hope its not him.
-__-
I hate to say I joked about this trip turning out like his boat adventure! I am praying this is not true! Evan Tanner was the one of the first true multi-skilled fighters. He was/is the pototype to todays fighters!
Dude should be in the UFC hall of fame.
Well I don’t look at death like most people. I’ve seen too many people living in pain with no quality of life unable to retain any dignity or control. If it’s him, he dictated the terms of his life and his death. So many people live scared so they never end up really living. As the sage Joe Rogan once said “I’d rather die in the octagon then die of old age peeing in my pants in a hospital bed somewhere.”
I gotta agree..There’s honor in dying doing something you enjoy.
Wow sad day in mma I’m sure the classy guys in this column send there regards to his family some of the people in this forum need to grow up and show respect to the man.
WOW. I was going to do his intro music for his next fight. I cant believe it.
I forgot, what was his intro music again?
Very sad indeed.
This is AWFUL news. I don’t even want to think about this until it’s confirmed. I hope and pray it’s not him.
What a journey. What ever he was looking for…I hope he found it.
rip man
I’m not familiar with what he says in his blogs, but it sounds like he was very depressed if he stated that he was taking a life threatening trip out there. He looked terrible at his last fight. He was an interesting fighter with all his changing looks and especially his uncanny talent.
It kind of reminds me of Into the Wild…… Evan Tanner was the Alexander Supertramp of MMA.
From what I read in his blogs it didnt’ sound like depression it sounded more like he was trying to find something. He was talking about seeing things no human had ever seen before,and taking trips to different places. Some stuff me and my buddies talk about when were drinking saying if we win the lotto we would do get on a harley and just go.Sounds like he was living that dream and misfortune Happened. Good Bye Evan thanks for the entertainment!
damn tanner…i can already feel that it is you that has passed. i know what its like to battle addiction and when some of us can’t get over it….we just would rather be in peace.
i hope you are in a peaceful place now.
Holy cow! I hope it’s not him. Of course, if it’s not him, then it’s somebody else . . . which isn’t good either. Nothing good comes from finding bodies in the desert. Hopefully, he turns up and is quite embarrassed.
Who cares. He died doing something he enjoyed, and knew the risk was there. I’d much rather die like that then pooping my diaper in a nursing home.
This is extremely sad and a blow to the MMA community. If it is him that has passed, I wish him the best up stairs.
My prayers are with you Evan.
I second everything you said Belfort fan I would destroy that piece of sh*ts life if I ever heard anyone talk about Evan like that.
could of been a mt. lion
In the Desert!
Depending on the area in Cali, yes. However, I would think Evan would know not to turn his back on a Mt. lion.
R.I.P. my friend.
It is him…please say a prayer for him and his family and friends…if Evan taught me anythhing, its that, if you have a dream or desire…go for it. He was a true champion and lived his life the way he wanted..no matter what anybody said. He did truely care what you fans said on these posts..so please if you have any respect in your body. Show him what he meant to you and the sport..and post good things…he really is never going to come back.
Hoping that it isn’t Tanner won’t make it true. It was him. Too much coincidence.
Evan Tanner is dead. RIP. I hope that before he died he found the answer to whatever was troubling his soul.
it’s him… confirmed:(
Hm… I hope it’s not him. I have met him before and he was a very good guy. But he has had his problems and seemed like a manic depressant who has never been the same since he left at UFC 59.
Prayers are with him.
Exactly. The guy was depressed. I hate to hear this cause I wanted him to get everything turned around. But, why let him go wander in the desert by himself? That was not a smart move on Tanner or anybody elses part. Could’ve/should’ve been avoided.
Sad but not surprising. Valhalla awaits with open gates…
I have never posted here ever. Been a lurker forever, but I will say this…
This deeply affected me, and made me cry like a little girl. I loved/respected Evan Tanner so much…..this sucks beyond belief if it is true. I am sure ill catch hatorade for this post but whatever.
No hatred. We share in your sadness man. God rest his soul.
No way Bengus, shouldn’t be an ounce of hate from anyone on this site… However, I don’t feel bad for Tanner because I believed this is the way he wanted to go out… he didn’t want to die an old man in a broken down hotel somewhere… life was rough for him and he decided God or nature was going to take him or show him a different path.
I believe Evan Tanner left life on his own terms rather than live it on society’s terms.
R.I.P Evan Tanner… Thank You for the Great MMA memories and your simplistic views of Life!
Nah No hate Death is a sketchy thing hits people differently.I’m absolutley Dumbfounded !
Sorry, but I can’t write this in english.
Tanner, eu estou pedindo para Deus para que isso não seja verdade. Todos conhecem o grande campeão e o grande homem que você é. Por favor não deixe a história do MMA órfã de suas apresentações de garra e de determinação.
Muita Força, campeão, onde quer que você esteja.
Very sad story. He seemed like he lived his life to a very full extent though, at least he was doing what he wanted.
Rob Dib
http://www.break-your-face.com
He was my favorite fighter. A true warrior. I hope a few you say a prayer for him and those who were close to him.
Reading his blogs he is someone I admired for the way he lived and his struggles. Another adventure
I want everyone to know that evan truly was as tough as they come. i grew up going to the bars and enjoyed Evan’s company when the nights were slow (when he was a bouncer). He never backed down and was game for anything new.
RIP Evan, Your fans from Amarillo are going to miss you.
this is really sad news if it indeed turns out to be tanner. it sucks big time. r.i.p buddy.
I am absolutely heart broken.
This is surreal and devastatingly tragic. Wow.
My prayers go out to his family and friends. He was a true warrior in and out of the cage. You will be missed.
R.I.P. Evan Tanner
Hope to see him in heaven. God bless Evan.
holy sh**! nice.
Whats nice???!!! You sick son of a bitch!!!
WTF!!!! what is nice about this???!!! I would beat you to a pulp!!
Nevermind this faceless threader…He’ll die too..
i’m shocked!
wow…. i’m shocked, i actually remember reading that article here on ufcmania about him going to the desert and he may be risking his life….
now this… wow… i feel so sad.
My sympathies to his family and all those that knew him.
this is a sad day.
damn if this is true then r.i.p. tanner, but this story seems kinda like a conspiracy to me, like 2-pac or something, they say he’s dead, but maybe he’s out hiding in africa or something…
atleast he did what he wanted to do.. it’s too bad that he even came back to fighting you could tell he was sick and living in another world.. RIP
R.I.P. Evan Tanner. this is a sad day for MMA
Evan was a great person and competator. when i first heard about this i was in shock. i started praying that it wasnt him. then it was later confirmed evan. God bless you Evan. You will forever be missed. And never forgotten. a Pionneer of the sport, and i genuinly Great person inside and out. Im sorry for all of his fans that feel the pain that i feel. and most of all. My prayers go out to his personal friends and his family. I know what it is like to lose a Friend or family member. God bless your soul Evan Tanner.
R.I.P
Belfort fan, i loved everything you said ands how you defended him with some of the ass holes on this site. I would join you in kicking their asses.
Evan Tanner R.I.P.
You lived a life I wish i could have had, ups and down, and an adventure…
Thanks alot man, i realy cant beleive my eyes when i see these comments about evan.. i mean, how could someone talk like that about evan. R I P Evan
I will miss watching you compete, and following your blog.
You will forever be remembered and missed!
Well said belfort _fan Evan was one of the greatest fighters during his time and a true pioneer in this sport but most of all he was a true gentleman outside of the octagon, and ferocious when he fought. I don t remember 1 of his fights being boring not even his last one against Grove. He represented the true code of a warrior and a human, Martial Arts aren t just about fighting but also about spirituality , confidence, living free and descipline and i must say Tanner was a real Martial Artist he lived well and died free. I mean u got to love the guy he went through a lot of hard times with adiction, had a couple losses and other shit and still overcame it and returned to the octagone. He was also one of the most chill and laid back down to earth people especially in MMA u could just tell from his interviews and in his eyes he was a good guy a true class act. I hope the UFC and spike tv produce a documentary about him from his early life to his 1st MMA fight to his bout wit Kendall Grove at the TUF 7 finale and the final weeks of his life. A very sad day for the MMA world and who can forget his wars with Rich Franklin or his fights with Baroni and when he became the UFC world Champion at UFC 51. To all the assholes making jokes and talkin crap fuck all ya only idiots can say that about a dead man. All the real fans i share ur pain. Evan was a great guy but at least he went out like a G ad did it his way. Thanks for the great years and wonderful memories Evan and for making me an even bigger MMA fan u truly will be missed. Gone but never forgotten. May God bless ur soul.
R.I.P. Evan Tanner 1971-2008
RIP Tanner…
I was part of “Team Tanner” and met him in Vegas. My only hope is that it was peaceful and easy. I almost hope we find he took something in the desert to do him in and not that he died of lack of food and water over a long period of time.
The MMA world should miss you, and hopefully you will be remembered in some way through the UFC. I hope they give him some kind of memorial.
He should be inducted into the UFC hall of fame.
Instantly
Even if he wasnt dead. i would want him in the hall of fame.
Confirmed on UFC’s site. God Bless you Tanner.
I hope it’s not him; but, if it is, he died doing something interesting. Tomorrow I’ll be in my cubical.
Yeah….no kidding.
It is him. Theres no chance is it anyone else… Sorry man.
at first read, I thought “what a strange comment.” On second read, I thought “how true!” Although it’s not a mentality I can personally associate with, to be free to do what you want, and have the b@lls to do it (no matter and not caring what others think) is very rare. I’ll be in my same kitchen, doing my same work for what seems like the millionth time. No adventure there. May he find the peace and adventure in passing that he sought so hard for in life. R.I.P. Tanner, you will be missed.
The news gets worse. Just read on TMZ (sorry for posting to another site mania) but he texted a friend telling them he was out of water and needed help. Not the kind of news I wanted to hear.
Of ways to pass into the next life, that’s not a very comfortable way to do it. Poor guy. I hope he’s at peace.
man… this is a sad day :[
This is one sad day for MMA ladies and gentlemen.
This is an absolute tragedy. Tanner had such an endearing quality about him. It was public knowledge that he had his problems, but his ideas and demeanor always inspired me that he was trying his best, not only for himself but for those around him.
He was seemingly the most grounded athlete in mixed martial arts, a real representative of the “everyman” that could still make it in the sport when it was picking up speed.
I think that the UFC really needs to step it up and do a memorial show on Spike for Evan. They have a roster brimming with former opponents, and most importantly footage of Evan’s rise to middleweight glory.
It’s truly unfortunate. R.I.P Evan.
UFC has an interesting article up. I’m unsure whether he was testing himself, or just ready to go. Here is interesting quote from his blog about the quote “I plan on going so deep into the desert, that any failure of my equipment, could cost me my life.”
“It seems some MMA websites have reported on the story, posting up that I might die out in the desert, or that it might be my greatest opponent yet, etc. Come on guys. It’s really common down in southern California to go out to the off road recreation areas in the desert about an hour away from LA and San Diego. So my plan is to go out to the desert, do some camping, ride the motorcycle, and shoot some guns. Sounds like a lot of fun to me. A lot of people do it. This isn’t a version of “Into the Wild”. I’m not going out into the desert with a pair of shorts and a bowie knife, to try to live off the land. I’m going fully geared up, and I’m planning on having some fun.”
Notice when he said ” This isn’t a version of “Into the Wild”. ” Go to his myspace page and notice the song playing”
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=26028435
Creepy.
rest in peace evan we will all remember you for the warrior you are!!
Into the wild…
Isnt this so bizzar
Wow, this is horrible news. RIP Tanner. My thoughts are with his family and friends. It’s really hard to believe this.
I have followed Evans blog since the “boat incident” and have eagerly checked his blog several timeas a week to read the next story or adventure. I followed and cheered him on when he quit drinking and started training and getting into shape for his fights. After all that I felt like I knew even though I have never met him. I am truly saddened at the news of his death. What a severe bummer….RIP Evan. You will be missed.
R.I.P Evan
I am surprisingly incredibly depressed about the death of a man I never met. I feel sick over this. RIP Evan, you will be sorely missed.
There will never be another person like Evan Tanner in the MMA world, period. I am very disappointed all the UFC has done is post an article like all their others on their site. They should do a little more in memory of Evan.
RIP-my friend,my thoughts an prayers go out to his family an friends you will be missed!
Evan, Amarillo Loves you! It gave me goosebumps to hear them announce you, knowing you were from here. Rest in peace buddy, you’ve won the fight!
Why does this have to happen! This is so horrible
Everyone who posted something disrespectful about Evan Tanner in this thread is a piece of shit and I hope Mania bans your ass from posting comments in the future.
RIP Evan Tanner
Thank you i am with you on that one.
100% Agree. Respect the dead.
If it ends up being him, R.I.P Tanner.
hello im a fan othe all ufc fighters including tanner . it is wierd that on wenesday i saw him at my store where i work in oceanside .i knew it was him when i told my girlfriend cuz he turned and looked at me after i had finish saying he was evan tanner..
wow, what a crazy weekend and start of a week…my thoughts go out to Evan’s family and friends…
RIP Evan, hope the ufc honors you in the Hall of Fame as a poineer in the sport.
I think mania should bump this to the top of the page.
I’m shock at this news. I only knew Evan from what I saw on TV and never meet him but I feel bad. My condolences goes out to his family and friends. I’m still shock………. speechless
I read alot of bad things about evan and i read alot of good thing’s , and can you say that anyone will blog or type in your favor when you die? you can’t be a head to head athlete and talk about the struggle in this world that is too hard for anyone to worry about death! death is forever and so is your glory and no one can take either from you!!
I am speechless. This is terribly sad.
IT HAS BEEN CONFIRMED EVAN TANNER DEAD AT AGE 37.
Canwest News Service
Published: Monday, September 08, 2008
Evan Tanner, an ex-Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight champion, was found dead in California’s Palo Verde mountain area on Monday. He was 37.
Evan Tanner was a great man and a great fighter. He trained hard, gave his all, and always continued to fight the circumstances in his life. He was and will continue to be a great inspiration to us all. This news greatly upset me, as Evan Tanner vs Richh Franklin was the first UFC Championship match I ever saw. I walked away with a great deal of respect for Evan Tanners heart, and still think of his fights when I need a reminder why I train. This is shocking news, and my heart goes out to all of you that knew him. I am truly sorry. I only wish I could have seen him crush the inner turmoil that seemed to plague him. I know that he is in a better place now, and I hope that before he died he found a small taste of what he was looking for.
i always thought of him as old because 37 in mma is up there. but when you hear, dead at 37, it seems so young. Awesome fighter and incredible, interesting guy. I’ll miss his fights, and just hearing the offbeat things he is up to.
WOW if you all go back to the Aug 18 Post it was pretty harsch. A Guy named ZzFDKzZ called it. Wow . I really hope Dana Puts something on Spike, and enters him in the hall of fame . He was a simple man that happened to have a tallent for fighting, hope he didn’t suffer. I know what it is like to be in the Dessert as many of u know 2 tours in Iraq it is brutal,can’t imagine no water. I don’t know what to say i really don’t. He seemed to finally get it, it’s not abou money or fame it’s about living your own life and finding out what u like and hat ur asperations,and dreams r, the world has lost a man’s man . Good luck in the after Evan good luck
JESSE? are you moderating?
I think Evan is at peace now. He’s always walked on the wild side and has recently turned very spiritual. I’m sure Evan excepted this fate.
RIP Evan, you will be missed
I just hope Evan is sitting in heaven, peacfull. Knowing that he did a great job while he was on earth.
Rest in Peace Evan, and thanks for all of the killer battles!
He is getting the remembrance he deserves. R.I.P. Evan Tanner…many of us drew inspiration from your life. All of us absorb a lesson from your death.
God bless Evan Tanner. He was a warrior in the cage and had some personal issues out of the cage but he did UFC and MMA proud.
He did the way he predicted and in some respect I think he had picked his time to leave us in the way he wanted to go.
Rest in Peace.
Honestly,that made cry.
Just got to work and thought let me check out mania.I am so shocked to have read this.
RIP Evan Tanner to me you were that poet,that writer and philosopher but above all else one of life’s greatest fighters.
I will miss reading about your adventures and your life journey.
I hope a movie is made of this man’s life that will inform the rest of the world not just mma fans of his great journey.
This is really sad news, Evan was such an open and interesting character as well as a great mixed martial artist. At least it was a fitting end that he lost his life on an adventure.
RIP Evan
Thousands of other people died today…and not because they wanted a ‘desert adventure.’ 3000 babies alone were dropped into wastebaskets today. Yet everyone is crying over some moron who basically did himself…because he was, boohoo, bored. I’m going to share two tips.
One, if you have to order all your equipment off of the internet, you’re not an adventurer.
Two, this is payback for those goofy, horrible dreadlocks he wore at one UFC a couple of years back.
Dont read the thread if it really bothers you. Its an MMA website and we are going to show sympathy to a former champion if he passes away regardless of where it is or how he does it.
BTW the second one is not a tip, its a statement.
What does ordering equipment off the internet have to do with being a free spirit adventurer. Evan Tanner lived his life on his terms. He was true to himself. Maybe he had some issues but nobody is perfect. He probably did more in his 30s then you will ever do and most of all he did it his way. A true warrior, champion, maverick, adventurer and most of all a TRUE GENTLEMEN.
This really sucks, I was always a fan of Tanner. Not just as a fighter but a person. At least he was on one of his crazy journeys when it happened, I am sure he would have prefered it that way.
RIP Evan Tanner.
“Before I started fighting I was traveling around the country seeking out adventure. I dropped out of college when I was 19 and took off. I worked as a bouncer in some of the roughest bars I could find. I worked as a contractor doing cable TV work all over the country (Wisconsin, Illinois, Connecticut, Colorado, South Dakota, California, Texas), I worked as a framer building beach houses in North Carolina. I worked concrete in Montana. I helped build a grain processing plant in Illinois. I’ve washed dishes, I’ve been a baker, I’ve dug ditches, I’ve been a salad prep, I’ve mowed lawns. I’ve worked at a slaughterhouse, was night security at Big Sky of Montana Ski Resort, worked the ski rental shop for Mammoth Mountain in California. I’m sure I’ve forgotten a few. And right now, I’m a fighter. In the future, a husband, a father, a lover, a writer, a poet, a philosopher, a teacher, and definitely a surfer again. The best is yet to come.”
Sounds like he went without any regrets. What more can anyone ask for? I was always a fan, he seemed like a good person.
……………….. R.I.P ……………….
R.I.P
Unbelievable. Rest in peace.
God bless and R.I.P. May you fing th epeace you sought in this life in the next. A ton of respect and much love.
I agree with DBG that he should be inducted to the hall of fame. I have been following mma for 5 yrs. now and Evan Tanner was huge in this sport back in the day. He was a true warrior and will be dearly missed. Thanks for the battles Evan, may you rest in peace.
Well…I can honestly say that this is not unexpected. It is sad indeed but not a suprise necessarily. I just pray that in the midst of it all (life) he found Christ and knew Him as Lord and Savior. It only takes a moment to believe and be saved from eternal seperation from God. That is the only ture way he’ll “r.i.p.”.
Dont insult Tanner like this please. Theres a time and a place for your propaganda, and this isnt it.
Evan, you will be missed.
Truth Seeker…really…?? This is precisely the time! Times like this make people think about life, death, the meaning of it all etc. It’s not propaganda and it’s hardly an insult. You’ll have to scroll further up in the comment string for insults if that’s what you’re looking for. It’s just one person concerned for anothers eternal destination.
There really is a time and place. This isnt it. I respect your beliefs and I even think it is great that you have those beliefs, but most people dont want to hear others be related to issues like that. I dont share the same beliefs as you, so I would appreciate it, if I didnt have to read about them on this forum. I know it isnt my forum, but that is still my opinion.
The backlash is interesting. So what does R.I.P. mean? Isn’t it a prayer that the deceased may rest peacefully, not in torment, while awaiting Judgment Day?? That would imply that a Judgement Day is coming. Whether immediate upon death or, in Catholicism, at the Final Judgement. Ultimately all those that say R.I.P. at least acknowledge something beyond this life and are expressing some kind of faith! Mine was a little less covert but no less genuine.
Yes, I think that people would rather just let him rest in Peace then have people hope that he’s a certain way (ie: accepting Jesus as savior etc). Many people believe different things about what form life takes after death. Rest in Peace doesn’t imply judgment, it implies a lack of suffering. This is what we all pray now, that he’s not suffering, whatever form that he takes. Jesus as Savior may be your method, but maybe not Tanner’s or many others on this thread. If you went to an Islamic funeral and said “Hopefully he accepted Jesus as savior” they might not be totally thrilled. Different beliefs.
I don’t think you meant any offense though, and I hope no one is offended. Obviously there’s nothing offensive about the teachings of Jesus, which are ultimately about peace.
Most intelligent post on this thread.
Yeah. drew wasn’t in any way insulting. try to read his comment a 2nd time…
RIP Evan Tanner
Wow what a bunch of tough guys on here, show some respect, R.I.P. Tanner
It seems as though those with the biggest hearts always go before their time.
Rest and relax my friend. See you soon.
well its been confirmed by ufc.com and mmaweekly.com that it is tanner so i hope all the jokers have a little more respect for evan now.
Damn it! I was so in denial. This is the worst news. Rest in peace. I hope you receive in death what you couldn’t find in life and condolences to his family and friends.
Good luck Evan. We are all counting on you.
This is a sad day. I was hoping to read about a wild adventure when he was done with this trip. I always liked his stories in the past. Evan, you were a true warrior. I loved you in the ring and I loved all your antics outside the ring. Rest in peace bro.
I will miss you dearly.
EE
This is indeed sad. Even though he was a bit eccentric, I met this guy a few months ago in Vegas where he was doing some signatures for the Memorial Day UFC, and after all the other fighters and staff left. This guy stayed behind for an extra hour to take pictures and sign autographs with fans that didnt get a chance during the official sign in. Class act.
RIP Evan.We are all going to miss you.
r.i.p evan. you w=are my fav fighter. the world is going to miss you. maybe you found what you were after. would have been great to see you fight one more time.
Damn this is crazy. I heard it on a major radio station this morning. RIP Evan. You were a great fighter, and I always enjoyed watching your fights.
Perhaps Evan wanted to end his life in a way that would not appear so obvious. I have the feeling that Tanner knew he wasn’t going to live a full life. He tried to fit as many things in as possible while documenting it in on his site as if to leave a stamp for the world to remember. I believe coming back to the UFC was a hit or miss thing for him. Unfortunately in Evan’s mind it was a miss, and before going back to the bottle he chose to die with dignity.
People will make fun of Evans adventures calling them ludicrous, suicide missions, etc. What these people don’t realize is that some people seek out these adventures to fill in that emptiness that plagues EVERYONE, wether they know / identify that emptiness or not, most just don’t have the balls to admit something is missing in their life and then leave it all behind and seek out something more significant like Evan and others have done…
WAR TANNER! true Samurai spirit
I would like to take this time to honor every person who is not talking bad about our brother who has past. And for those who are sticking up for him with me… Thank you a million. Evan was a great free spirited man who would have never talked trash about anyone. We love you and will miss you forever Evan.
I have been watching MMA and UFC for a long time, and I have always respected Evan Tanner for the great sport and human being he was. I myself often dismiss fighters after a few losses as on their way out, but I never looked at Evan that way. I always looked forward to watching him fight [ and see his news hair style of course ]. Rest in peace Evan, you are truly one of my hero’s.
rest well
we have lost a true champ..some one like no other he will be greatly missed gods speed my freind…………jason
RIP EVAN. You are a true warrior, champion, free spirit, and most of all a True GENTLEMAN.
Evan Tanner was the shit. The gatekeeper if you will of the UFC. He was and ALWAYS WILL BE… TRULY and ICON of the sport and has literally given ALL to convey it as well as feel and confirm it to himself here as well as beyond.
The dude had a way about him few fighters do that was truly Awesome! He was quite a character in the UFC who came to the octagon with a bad ass style all his own. The last couple fights i was pulling for him and when he lost(barely) i was pissed. Cause i knew he wanted that win more then the other but just couldnt pull it off. Someone mentioned him as a warrior…that was always very obvious.
I’ll forever see him as that…
R.I.P. Evan The Warrior Tanner
U will not be forgotten.
(The UFC Better have a tribute Highlight real for this Icon or else!)
Believe in yourself. Believe in your own potential for greatness. Believe that you can change the world. It is something that is within each of us. Believe in the Power of One
To all of you that are taking this time to act like macho jerks, I ask you to think of the family and friends of this man. I am amazed at the total lack of respect for the dead, their family and friends some of you are! You don’t have to like or respect him or how he fought but lets not just bash him either. He was just a man, he had his highs and his lows. He had his demons and because of those demons he was able to encourage others to deal with their problems. He was a champion and a looser, but everything he did he did with pride and honor.
http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2008/9/9/610540/remembering-evan-tanner
This is a wonderful article on Evan.
Evan Tanner lived more in his 37 years than many of us will in our lifetimes. By wearing everything on his sleeve, including his struggles outside of the cage, he helped people beyond what he even could have imagined. I had the opportunity to speak with Evan back in July at a Freedom Fight card up here in Canada - he was cornering Ian Dawe. I talked to him ring side for all of 5 minutes. I told him how much I appreciated his honesty in his writing and wished him the best of luck - we shook hands, took a photo and that was it. I have a good idea why he meant so much to so many from that simple 5 minute chat. Evan was a pioneer and he will be remembered and celebrated by all of the lives he touched while he truly lived his.
I honestly can’t believe some of the disrespectful posts on here - and I can’t believe I just justified some of them by posting this last thought.
Rest in Peace, Evan - the rest of us will continue to believe.
i dont really leave posts on this website but i feel i got to say somtin.. i never got the honor of meeting evan tanner but ive seen his fight with dave terrell live and what a champion he was on all his fights.. never backed down. thanks Tanner for the memories.. u will be missed sorely.. RIP Buddy
You guy’s have have got to me kidding me. Whoever posts a negative word against Even Tanner will certainly gets what he deservers in the next life. You think your so much better. Just think about who made you; You think your made yourselves? Who are you to judge? I would be much more concerned about my own actions than of someone who has died. You guy’s decided.
BC.
el fue a buscar algo que realmente se le habia perdido ‘”la f
uria de un peliador de ufc/’”
mi mas sen tido pesame parra la familia q dios los fortalesca bendiciones
When i hear the name evan tanner i think of legend’pioneer and gentleman not just for the ufc but for life in general i think thats what set him apart from a lot of the other fighters we have seen over the years.For all those people who have written any negative comments about our dear friend I just ask you to stop and think about who your writing it about. This is a memorial site we dont want that garbage on here.
RIP evan
as a martial artist and black belt i would loved to have met Evan Tanner. He was a true champion and a real warrior.We all have demons to battle Evan lost his battle with his. The mma lost one of the best.
Chris Brown is a good person he does not have a history of violence..cant wait til this is over and he is with a new love.
Pleeeeeease someone just tell me that they have seen Evan recently and he is alive and all this was a hoax?? I keep dreaming about him…..
R.I.P Michael Jackson.