Former UFC Middleweight Champion Evan Tanner dies

Clearly a sad day in the MMA nation, as the body of Evan Tanner was found in the California desert on Monday. The San Diego Tribune reported

Officials on Tuesday confirmed that a body found in a remote area of the Imperial County desert was that of former Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight titleholder Evan Tanner of Oceanside. Preliminary reports indicate Tanner, 37, died of heat exposure, said Imperial County Sheriff's Lt. George Moreno. An autopsy to determine the exact cause of death was scheduled for Tuesday.

Sense losing his title to Rich Franklin in 2005, Tanner had been working his way back to prominence in the middleweight division. Many fans had been hoping that his recent convincing victory over former Olympian Matt Lindland was another step in that direction. Tanner is survived by his brother and mother. Sphere: Related Content