BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF ONE
RIP Evan Tanner 1971-2008
Some of you might remember in a few of those wacked out meme's where they ask you about your fandoms, that I listed someone by the name of Evan Tanner as one of my favorite Mixed Martial Artists. His body was discovered in the Palo Verde Mountains area of California. He went missing after posting in his blog that he was going to go "searching for treasure" deep in the mountains (adding that "treasure isn't something that is material.")
I had been a fan of his for years now, from his first appearance in the UFC way back at UFC 18, so this is very upsetting news for me. I never met him in person, but reading of his antics and stores in various MMA websites, I feel as if I know him well. I've exchanged emails with him for some time as well. One time out of the blue, he asked me for my mailing address because he wanted to send me a gift for being a loyal fan of his. He sent me a t-shirt with this motto "Believe in the Power of One" emblazoned on the back and a tape of his hard to find fights from Japan and Texas. I'll never forget that.
He at one time became the UFC Middleweight Champion, but lost the title to the up and coming UFC superstar Rich Franklin. He took a hiatus from MMA to come back this year; after fighting off the demon of alcoholism which had broken him down, but went 0-2 upon returning. Still, he called his return triumphant since, even though he hit another low; he didn't turn back to the bottle.
He is known in MMA circles as "The Lone Wolf"; never really sticking with one training camp or team. Hell, he is mostly self-taught as a fighter; coming from a wrestling background and teaching himself submissions and muay thai from books and instructional videos. He's also known for being highly adventurous; going cross-country on his motor cycle and going out on his sailboat to nowhere sometimes.
I just don't know what to say at this point. Part of me wants to think that knowing him, this is probably the way he would want to go out; the wandering, philosophic warrior seeking another grand adventure. Most of me just wishes to see him in the ring again . . . or just to see him again in some capacity.
"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."
--Evan Tanner
EDIT: Big John McCarthy, longtime referee for the UFC, wrote this nice article in tribute of Tanner. Well worth a read:
Tanner Lived Life to Its Fullest