Evan Tanner was a popular figure in the world of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) for his unique philosophy to life, relentless struggle, and illustrious career competing inside the octagon. His legacy is admired by many in the MMA community even now, years after he died too soon in 2008. A summary of his career, match records, personal life, and the latest on what the future tells around his legacy.
MMA Career Overview
In 1997, Tanner crossed over into MMA and started his professional fighting career. Evan Tanner Walking Through MMA History, later built a reputation as a tough, well-rounded fighter with grappling tendencies that was willing to fight the best.
Here are some of Evan Tanner’s fights
- Total Fights: 42
- Wins: 32
- Knockout Wins: 8
- Submission Wins: 16
- Decision Wins: 8
- Losses: 10
Notable Fights and Wins
- UFC 51: Tanner vs. Terrell (February 5, 2005)
Result: Tanner def.
Notability: Tanner’s victory was the pinnacle of his career; he became the UFC Middleweight Champion that night.
- UFC 50: Tanner vs.BackPressedious RobBeat en Lawler (10/22/04)
Result: Tanner def. by submission (triangle choke)
Significance: Tanner showed off his submission game, out-wrestling the striker Lawler.
- UFC 30: Tanner vs. Tito Ortiz — Feb. 23, 2001
Outcome: Tanner loses via KO (slam).
Relevance: Tanner advanced to his title fight with Ortiz but was defeated by the champ. It was tanners first title fight and he showed that he would not back down from the division’s best.
- UFC 18: Tanner vs. Darrel Gholar (8.01.1999)
Result: Tanner def. (submission — rear-naked choke)
Significance: Evan Tanner debuted in the UFC, and an innovative utilization of his grappling led the way to a slick submission stop.
- UFC 53: Tanner vs. Rich Franklin (June 4, 2005)
Outcome: Doctor Stoppage TKO win for Eubanks
Why it matters: Tanner dropped his UFC Middleweight title to Franklin in a grinding, back-and-forth affair.
Tanner ran into several other big names during his career as well, among them Phil Baroni and David Loiseau. Versatility and toughness have always been his calling cards.
Early Life, Education and Family Background
Evan Tanner was born on February 11, 1971, in Amarillo, Texas. He took a different path than typical and largely taught himself to fight using instructional videos and his wrestling background. Tanner, who won the state wrestling championship in Texas while a high school student before embarking upon his MMA journey, After 13 years in the corporate world feeling far from fulfilled with his early success, a healthy income and willingness to no longer accept the “norm”, Jordan started traveling more and living life on his own terms — When he then stumbled across MMA.
Never the Same: His Personal Life and Struggles
Evan Tanner lived a wild life outside of the cage, but still managed to cram shit tons of interesting stories inside it too. The wanderlust was just part of the free-spirited life that brought O’Neill to bunk in a van and roam around the country. Tanner was big on independence and self-reliance, constantly talking about the struggles in life and what it brings you as a person.
Tanner, who struggled with alcoholism that impacted his life and career, was well-liked by audiences. Fans respected him for being open about such problems, saying he was honest with his followers. In some sense, Tanner was more than just a fighter; he was a philosopher, using MMA as a stage by which to expose fans to his musings on life, suffering and rebirth.
Family and Relationships
Tanner protectively kept his family behind closed doors. He was never very forthcoming about his love life, but it is well established that he was the type to truly enjoy his own company. He referred often to the backing of his family Titanic though his peripatetic existence kept his distance from any link more enduring than cafe take-away.
Tragic Death and Legacy
Evan Tanner was discovered deceased in the California desert near Palo Verde on September 8, 2008. This time he was out in the desert, scouting the land and looking for solitude. Tragically, he died from heat stroke while on his motorcycle in the desert with no water after it broke down. The MMA community was stunned by his death, filled with fighters who said they appreciated the man not because of the way he carried himself into or out of the ring, but that he always carried himself as Jon Fitch.
Tanner: the boy had left quite a legacy behind for dying so young. Fans and colleagues who felt his warm regards will remember that he battled personal demons as vigorously as his determination to live life on his terms.
Tanner’s Legacy UPDATES
Evan Tanner may have been gone for over a decade but his legacy remains alive in the hearts and minds of those who follow the sport of mixed martial arts. Many fans still talk about his life and consider him a source of inspiration. His going to the top in mixed martial arts working in unorthodox ways still serves as an inspirational story for combatants climbing up.
Over the years, different MMA outlets have produced like documentaries and special interviews with people from his past honoring Tanner. Tanner’s story, though tragic, is a reminder of how fragile life can be and that so long as we can do it without causing harm to ourselves or others, none of us should ever give up hope in our wildest dreams.
Net Worth at Death
By 2018, Evan Tanner earned a fortune whose net worth was around $300,000 when he died. He may not have been rich, but that man lived a life that was extremely full of adventure and for the time being, earned him legendary status in a family of unbeatable fighters.
Even more than six years on, the saga of Evan Tanner stands as one of the most compelling tales in combat sports history. For generations to come, his legacy is solidified through the relentless pursuit of both self-discovery in and outside the cage.
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