09-10-2008, 11:36 PM
The Imperial County sheriff's office yesterday confirmed that a body found in a remote area of desert was that of former Ultimate Fighting Championship middleweight titleholder Evan Tanner of Oceanside.
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Preliminary reports indicate Tanner, 37, died of heat exposure, said Sheriff's Lt. George Moreno. Temperatures reached 114 the day he was reported missing.
Tanner had gone to the area about 60 miles northeast of Brawley on a solo camping trip last Wednesday, authorities said. The mixed-martial arts fighter drove to the area on a dirt bike that he had recently purchased, said John Hayner, Tanner's manager.
That afternoon, Tanner called to say the bike had run out of gas and that he was going to walk. When concerned friends did not hear from Tanner again, they reported him missing, Hayner said. A Yuma-based Marine helicopter pilot spotted the body on Monday.
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Preliminary reports indicate Tanner, 37, died of heat exposure, said Sheriff's Lt. George Moreno. Temperatures reached 114 the day he was reported missing.
Tanner had gone to the area about 60 miles northeast of Brawley on a solo camping trip last Wednesday, authorities said. The mixed-martial arts fighter drove to the area on a dirt bike that he had recently purchased, said John Hayner, Tanner's manager.
That afternoon, Tanner called to say the bike had run out of gas and that he was going to walk. When concerned friends did not hear from Tanner again, they reported him missing, Hayner said. A Yuma-based Marine helicopter pilot spotted the body on Monday.