Those who know about the UFC know who this man is. But what's interesting is what he's known for. MMA fans know that he is a former middleweight champion. People know he was the first to beat Phil Baroni, twice no less. But what he's known for is his way of life. He considered himself a poet, a writer, a philosopher....not a fighter. He worked many jobs before becoming a fighter, and had a successful career. But he never got lost in the spotlight, and enjoyed spending time out in nature. It was his way of looking for an adventure. Everything he did he considered an adventure.
The last we saw of him, he had unfortunately lost his last two fights. But as expected, he never quit either fight. That was his way. You either had to knock him out, or survive. Regardless, he had tremendous heart in the Octagon, and it showed in every fight. The fight he won to become middleweight champion was evidence of that. His opponent David Terrell locked in a very tight guillotine choke early in the first round, and held it tight. Tanner didn't tap, and didn't go out. He fought out of the hold, stayed on top of Terell, and pounded on him to force the referee to stop the fight with only a handful of seconds left in the round. In the fight community, that scene sticks out the most when remembering his career.
He was a good fighter that will be missed. He was a champion that will be remembered. He was an adventurer that will be honored. He was Evan Tanner.
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