Remembering Evan Tanner
September 9, 2008
By Elias Cepeda
I found out late Monday night that former UFC middleweight champion Evan Tanner had died during a camping trip in the Palo Verde area new Brawley, CA. The news was heartbreaking. It was only this past June that Tanner last stepped into the ring, as a part of The Ultimate Fighter 7 Finale main event alongside Kendall Grove, and just the other week he was in Milwaukee, WI with other UFC and WEC fighters doing something he loved - meeting with and greeting fans.
Tanner was only 37 years old but accomplished much in his life. Part of that was his body of work in the wrestling and mixed martial arts worlds.
Spanning eleven years, forty fights in three different weight classes (heavyweight, light heavyweight and middleweight), Tanner’s MMA career was marked by a high level of activity and an even higher level of competition. In his typical yeoman -like fashion, Tanner worked his way up from fighting in a three-fights-in-one-night tournament in Amarillo,TX in 1997 (which he won) to the UFC and national television.
But perhaps Tanner’s biggest accomplishment wasn’t what he did inside the ring but how he connected with people. From writing his “Tanner Chronicles” for InsideFighting, to his MySpace blogs and most recently his writing for Spike.com, Tanner brought fans into the intimate details of his life in truly remarkable ways.
He may not have been the very most famous fighter in the world but he was one of the most loved, and those who did know of him never forgot him. Tanner spent time with fans. He ate with them, drank with them, hung out with them.
And those out of his immediate range found themselves caring about him after reading his diary-like writing. It was likely not his historically long winning streaks (at one point, spanning 13 fights and two years) or title fight performances that made fans love Tanner but rather the way he shared his life with them.
It wasn’t Tanner’s (seen here after winning the UFC middleweight title in 2005) many fight accomplishments that earned him the love of fans, it was the type of person he was
In a day and age where some pro stars charge fans for autographs, Tanner was more likely to invite one of them along for a ride and tell them a story. Speaking with him before his last fight, Tanner’s closing words to me were that he wanted to “thank all the fans for making it possible and making this sport real.”
And fans have plenty to thank Evan Tanner for. By bringing them in, Evan made himself and the sport he represented more real.
From his relationships, to travels to business ideas, to his struggles with alcohol to philosophy - nothing seemed out of bounds for Tanner as he wrote and made each reader feel close to him. Tanner was beyond tough inside the ring and didn’t know the word quit, but he was a true warrior because he wasn’t afraid to be vulnerable outside of it.
Tanner’s life road was filled with great joy and disappointment, depression and jubilation, hurdles and opportunities for love. But he was always intent on taking the journey, often times by jeep, sometimes on his motorcycle and at times even on foot. Excursions into nature were not uncommon for Tanner and it was on one such trip, into the desert, that he died.
The details and cause of Evan’s death are not yet known. And perhaps in time we’ll learn why, exactly, it happened and how it could have been prevented.
But we don’t need to know any of that to know about Evan Tanner’s life, and how he chose to live it. He was a person, like all of us, who didn’t have all the answers but was honest enough to acknowledge it.
And he had the courage to follow his heart’s compass even if he wasn’t sure where it was leading. Tanner was his own man, a unique and good soul.
Someone like that, a life lived that way, can always be celebrated. Even on the saddest of days.
Our thoughts, prayers and condolences are with his family, friends and fellow admirers.
“[Disappointment and sadness] are a part of it. You throw it all on the line and sometimes you lose. You have to be prepared to pick yourself up and pick up the pieces. You can’t fold up.” - Evan Tanner June, 2008
Well said Elias.
This is so heart breaking. I was balling like a baby yesterday. Took a while for it to hit me and when it did I couldn’t hold anything in. Evan was awesome. My favorite fighter and my hero. Even during his struggles I never lost faith in him. I remember a couple of years back when insidefighting.com did The Tanner Chronicles and at the end they did a contest where you could email a question to Evan and if it was chosen he would answer it and you would get a prize. One of my questions was picked and I received a Sprawl shirt signed by Evan. Unfortunately for some reason Evan never got to answer the questions sent to him. Its almost like you really got to know him through his blogs. Good bye Evan and thank you for making a positive impact on my life.
Excellent piece.
Thanks for sharing this memory with me, everyone. It’s just so sad. Evan was a good guy and a special fighter. With all he fit into his young life, he would have been amazing to have around as an old timer to tell then young folks great stories and teach them lessons. Luckily, he didn’t seem to hold much back or in from fans so we got a whole lot from him and his experiences.
Stephen, I remember the Tanner Chronicles, that’s cool that you were a part of the contest. I’m putting together a bunch of photos we have of Evan through the years, from UFC 48 to his title win at UFC 51 to the Tanner Chronicle photos to his last fight with Grove. I’ll publish them tomorrow. It’s sad but nice to look through them myself, hopefully other fans of his will get something out of it as well. Thanks to everyone again for reading and sharing.
Evan was a true journeyman that earned it the hard way. He never lost perspective, and always gave his all, win, lose or draw. God’s speed, Evan Tanner.
Please send me a link to evans previous blogs. I cant find the old ones online and I really want to read more about his life.
Donovan, right now links to the Tanner Chronicles may not be available because we’re still in the process of completing our archives from the old site and making them available on our new server.
However, I’m going to be digging them up personally so we can re-publish them here on the new site for people to read again and for others to read for the first time. I’ll keep you posted as to when they run again. Thanks for your interest.
Evan Loyd Tanner, 37, formerly of Amarillo, died Monday, Sept. 8, 2008.
Celebration of life services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, in the Amarillo Civic Center Auditorium. Local arrangements are by Cox-LaGrone Funeral Home, 4180 Canyon Drive.
Evan Tanner was born Feb. 11, 1971, in Amarillo and most recently resided in Oceanside, Calif.
He was a 1989 graduate of Caprock High School in Amarillo, where he was a two-time state wrestling champion. He later attended Simpson College in Iowa, where he was on the Dean’s List.
Evan pursued a career in mixed martial arts (MMA). His first fight was in March 1997 in Amarillo, where he won the USWF Heavyweight title. Other accomplishments included being the first American to win the esteemed Neo Blood Pancrase tournament in Japan. Evan continued his career, fighting his first UFC match on Jan. 8, 1999. The highlight of his career came in 2005, when he won the UFC Middleweight Championship at UFC 51.
Evan was an avid reader and writer. He always kept a journal, as well as an Internet blog. He was a philosopher and poet. He was a traveler who always sought adventure, and especially loved the freedom of the open road while riding motorcycles.
Evan had many friends and fans from around the world. By living his life to the fullest, he impacted everyone who knew him.
We will miss you, Evan. Your spirit lives on through the lives you touched.
“Believe in the power of one.” - Evan Tanner
Survivors include his mother, Sue Craig of Lubbock; his father, Bob Tanner of Albuquerque, N.M.; a brother, Jeff Tanner of Amarillo; two sisters, Brenna Tanner of Lubbock and Paige Craig of Los Angeles; a cousin, Olivia Petty of Amarillo; two aunts, Lynn Petty of Oklahoma City and Loraine of British Columbia, Canada; and an uncle, Loyd Tanner of British Columbia.
The family suggests memorials be to Evan Tanner Memorial Fund, Amarillo National Bank, P.O. Box 1, Amarillo, TX 79105.
All other correspondence can be sent to 504 S. Harrison St., Amarillo, TX 79101.
Amarillo Globe-News, Sept. 17, 2008
That was a GREAT piece Elias. Thanks for writing it, and also for mentioning the Tanner Chronicles. Would you please let me know when you guys get those posted once again. Thanks!
I just heard tonight that Evan has passed on.
My heart goes out to the family.
I wanna say he was one of my favorites. He fought with courage, and great sportsmanship.
I would be proud to call him brother or friend.
My heart is heavy with grief.
People, want to truly honor Evan? Believe in the power of one?
Prove it! Let’s ALL walk the walk!
Here I am . . . I’m not famous - but I offer you all a challenge!
Do something special for someone else, a stranger, anybody…just pick something to help someone with, give money, just for one moment, do something to help someone that means you have to step out of your comfort level - even if for a little while!
This is something I truly believe Evan would have done in a heartbeat and something he has indeed done in the past. Please, though I am not Evan, like I said - I am no one special; but this could be something awesome!
Never stop believing in the power of one! Evan was not only talking about himself with the “believe” slogan – he meant the world of individuals out there – he meant US!
Take care and God bless!
Jason
To the family, friends, and fans of Evan:
It has closing on a year since Evan’s passing.
So looking back at who Evan was; I wanted to ask you a question: want to truly honor Evan? Believe in the power of one?
Prove it! Lets ALL walk the walk!
I’m not famous, no one special - but I offer you all a challenge!
Do something special for someone else, a stranger, anybody…just pick something to help someone with, give money, just for one moment, do something to help someone that means you have to step out of your comfort level - even if for a little while! Do something!
This is a small task I truly believe Evan would have done in a heartbeat and something he has indeed done in the past. Please, though I am not Evan, like I said - I am no one special; but this could be something awesome!
Never stop believing in the power of one! Evan was not only talking about himself with the “believe” slogan – he meant the world of individuals out there – he meant US!
Take care and God bless!
Jason