It is a very sad day when anyone passes away but perhaps more so when a warrior of the cage meets his demise, not at the hands of his opponent in combat or at the end of a long life filled with rich experiences but alone in a desolate area, alone and battling elements out of his control. 

Evan Tanner was a man of many layers. Outstanding wrestler, MMA fighter, outdoorsman, adventurer and intellegent spokesperson for his sport, the mysteries of life and his never ending quest for the meaning of it all.

He went out to the desert to do just that. Aside from the possibilities of lost treasue, Tanner was looking "to cleanse himself" and remove himself from the frustrations of cilivilized society, a constant theme to his many ecursions into the wild. Unlike the character from the movie of the same name; Tanner was venturing forth fully prepared for the forces of nature having equiped his motorcycle with the requirements for his trek.

Unfortuanately his provisions were left at his camp, just 2 miles away from where he collasped of heat exhaustion and water depleation.

Even a skilled survialist can only last a few days without water and with temperatures soaring past the 100 degree mark, Tanner was in dire straits to be braving the open expanse of the desert. Although he was aware of the dangers, even instructing friends to contact authorities if they didn't hear from him, it proved to be too little, too late.

Evan Tanner should be remembered as a man who brought enthusiam and excitement to a sport that can often become boring when fighters are locked up and tired. Tanner never seemed to tire, always ready to explode on his opponents given the slightest opening and opportunity.

His appearance matched his spirit with wild hair and frequent additions of facial hair. Tanner's looks often matched his exhuberant fighting style and provided for equally entertaining bouts as he moved arounnd the ring, stalking his prey and letting loose with flurries of fists and legs.

Built as a personification of athletism, his chisled body intimated combatants and inspired others to push themselves beyond their limits.

Evan Tanner lived his life to forgo limitations and explore the far recesses of life's deeper meanings both in and out of the cage.  He will be sorely missed.  

Quinton "Rampage" Jackson has been charged with two felony counts, charges that were a direct result of his recent reckless driving escapades. Jackson evaded police, drove the wrong way against traffic and ended up in several accidents, which he ran away from. One of the accidents involved a pregnant woman who lost her baby. Although it was later determined that Rampage's hit and run was not responsible for the early fetal termination one can only believe the experience and trauma certainly didn't help matters much.

Quinton's legal and criminal problems are really just getting started but the question remains how this effeccts his contract with UFC and how, it's President Dana White, willl handle other fighters in similar situations?

Randy Couture has ventured into his latest film role as King of the ancient realm that begot The Rock's character in The Scorpion King.

The Scorpion King 2 ( can't anyone come up with better names for a sequeal? ), has Couture as ruler over of the land and oppressor of some people from which a young hero will rise and fight him. Yawn!

Randy's previously played a part in David Mamet's movie, Red Belt. Although he only had a minor role in the film he handled it well and thankfuly he didn't get stuck in some muscle bound thug role that Hollywood so often sticks athletes in. Dwayne Johnson was able to show off his chops as an actor early on and has bennd having a good time securing his acting future.

So who will be the next fighter to step out of the cage and into the limelight?

Chuck? Forrest? Kimbo?

It's interesting to note that unlike a lot of boxers that have taken up acting, the MMA fighters, for the most part, have shown to be more articulate and intellegent than their pugilistic counterparts. Perhaps it has to do with the fact that boxers take more shots to the head.

Or maybe it's because MMA Fighters need to have a greater breath of skills and that those skills must be applied and switched back and forth in lightening speed. Not just in it's execution of physical application because one must have access to the knowlege mentally before it can be used by the body.

Since most of the early MMA fighters came from a martial arts background and martial arts teach more than just the physicallity of strikes, kicks, locks and throws, it proves the point that a well rounded fighter is one that aquires a broader expanse of information, knowledge that goes beyond the battle.

To wit; If you want a fighter to act in your movie and they need to actually be able to speak, get a MMA fighter.