The dangers of combat sports are glaring but the actual fatality list is few and far between. Sanctioned MMA bouts happen all over the world under the watchful eyes of different athletic commissions and because MMA is a heavy contact sport, it is rightfully strict in its approach professionally. However, despite the dangers of combat sports being prevalent, all the men on this list were not victims to the sport, but victims to external issues.
Ranging from reckless accidents, post-fight injuries and health problems to substance abuse, this list contains the tragic endings of some of the MMA communities most beloved athletes. Unfortunately, we remember them for the dramatic way they went, but we shouldn't forget how we knew them in the first place.
Here is Sportskeeda’s Top 5 shocking MMA fighter deaths.
#1 Joao Carvalho
The former Portuguese mixed martial arts’ demise is perhaps the most dramatic and terrifying amongst the five on this list. Only a year prior to his tragic death, Carvalho turned pro as an MMA fighter and he held a 1-1 record heading into his fight with Charlie Ward at Total Extreme Fighting 1which would be his last.
The bout was highly publicised not only because of its tragedy, but also because of who was in Ward’s corner supporting him - Conor McGregor. The fight was a one-sided beating from Ward which saw Carvalho lose via TKO in the third round. However, the criticism that surrounded the fight was the referee’s late stoppage which later struck major guilt in all parties involved, including McGregor, when he learned of the fighter’s post-fight injuries and ultimate death.
It was reported that the Portuguese fighter complained of a headache shortly after the fight and began vomiting. He was then rushed to hospital where it was later reported he died two days after the injuries sustained. Although this is a glaring example of the danger of late stoppages in sanctioned MMA events, unfortunate deaths such as Carvalho’s happen very rarely.
#2 Jordan Parsons
Parsons’ death was mourned as an injustice when it was first announced because of the horrible way it happened. In early May 2016, Parsons was crossing the street from his Florida apartment when he was violently struck by a Range Rover driven by a reckless 28-year-old named Dennis Wright as he drove home from a nightclub.
After being hit, the “Pretty Boy” was rushed to the hospital where he suffered a brutal severed lower right leg, a pelvic fracture, several fractured ribs, lung contusions, arterial bleeding, a splenectomy and rectal tear. Parsons died three days after the incident, losing his battle to stay alive.
The disturbing account was a hit-and-run which created a statewide search for the driver who was later found. In the security videos, it is seen that Wright was reportedly clocking in excess of 100mph.
When he was finally caught was said he was cover up evidence of the crash by taking his damaged vehicle to a repair shop. He was later slapped with vehicular homicide, DUI manslaughter, leaving the scene of a crashing involving death and ‘tampering or fabricating physical evidence’ which got him fined $450,000 – rightfully so.
#3 Kimbo Slice
Slice is a cult hero to many long enduring MMA fans. The legacy that Slice left behind was one that reminded fight fans of the gritty beginnings of caged combat, considering his roots before becoming a professional. His last feat in the cage was a dreadful and sloppy contest against long-time rival Dada 5000 and himself at Bellator 149.
The aftermath of the fight was a scary warning to Slice of things to come when Dada was rushed to hospital after suffering from a cardiac arrest and renal failure. Slice was also later caught for testing positive for steroids and elevated levels of testosterone. We don’t know if this would lead to his death, but what was for certain is that it was incredibly out of the blue. In June of that same year, Slice was slated to fight at Bellator 158 in the UK.
Prior to the fight he complained of severe abdominal pains, shortness of breath and nausea and was checked into hospital putting the fight in jeopardy. The issues eventually lead to a doctor’s diagnosis of congestive heart failure, in addition to also having a liver mass. He was put into intensive care since he urgently needed a heart transplant to survive, but upon being transported to another hospital, Slice died in June.
It was a time of mourning for the MMA community, especially since he paved a path no other cult hero can say they ever did.
#4 Josh Samman
The UFC middleweight was declared dead on October 28th2016 in his Florida apartment from an apparent drug overdose. Samman was only 28 years of age and amassed a record of 3-2 in the UFC. It was said that a friend of Samman’s found him and Troy Kirkingburg (a local MMA announcer) unresponsive in Samman’s apartment five days before the middleweight’s ultimate death from a reported overdose of heroin, cocaine and painkillers.
During his career on TUF and in the UFC, he was open about his issues with substance abuse. He credited much of his coping skills to such because of his struggle with the death of his girlfriend three years before his own death. Samman was also a very creative man outside of the cage too, having been mourned by his fellow journalists at BloodyElbow, FloCombat and UFC.com after working there.
He also wrote a book that came out only a few months before his death called “The Housekeeper: Love, Death, and Prizefighting”, a personal memoir covering much of his life story and career.
#5 Ryan Jimmo
Jimmo is yet another example on this list of a man whose life was taken away too early by a reckless driver. In June of 2016, the light heavyweight was victim to a hit-and-run incident in Edmonton, Canada. The UFC vet’s last night of his life played out, according to his girlfriend, Roxie Reece, as follows.
Apparently two men, who were later identified as Anthony Getschel and Jordan Wagner, had been tailgating the couple while they were making their home from the movies.
Jimmo later pulled over and confronted the men leading to an intense verbal altercation. As the Canadian walked away back to his own car, the suspects struck Jimmo and then sped off leaving him fatally injured.
The two men were arrested only days later with Getschel ultimately being charged with second-degree murder, while Wagner was charged with being an accessory.
