Sobering news hit the combat sports world Tuesday with the tragic death of Russian boxer Maxim Dadashev, who succumbed to brain injuries sustained in a fight.
Dadashev, 28, lost a 140-pound fight via 11th-round TKO to Subriel Matias on Friday at MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Md. The fight, in which Matias dominated and landed numerous power punches to Dadashev’s head and body, was stopped after trainer Buddy McGirt pleaded with his fighter not to continue on.
Dadashev was taken to UM Prince George’s Hospital Center afterward and died Tuesday morning.
“It just makes you realize what type of sport we’re in, man,” McGirt told ESPN. “He did everything right in training, no problems, no nothing. My mind is like really running crazy right now. Like, what could I have done differently? But at the end of the day, everything was fine (in training).
“He seemed OK. He was ready, but it’s the sport that we’re in. It just takes one punch, man.”
News of Dadashev’s tragic death was felt throughout the MMA community, which paid tribute to the fighter. You can see some of the reactions from Twitter below:
****
The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.
