Today marks one year since Shinobi passed away. I still think about him all the time and carry him with me every day. I still have my two girls, but we are all lonely without him in our lives. I’d give anything in the world to have him back right now.
I felt really strange yesterday as we packed up from Atlanta and headed off to the airport. Something wasn’t right, but I didn’t know what. Then, at the airport, this huge thunderstorm bursted out of nowhere. First time I had ever seen something like that in my life. As we finally boarded the plane and took off, I still felt very uneasy. But it was not because of the flight, it was something else, I just didn’t know what. Then, when we landed, I found out what was wrong. The text messages of condolences started rolling in. I frantically started calling people till I got the answer I did not want to hear. My good friend, my idol, my mentor Evan Tanner has passed away.
I’m still very numb and confused. No one is ever prepared to deal with death, but it’s so much harder with Evan. His life was an open book. He documented every day in his life. I could go 2 months without seeing him or even speaking to him, but I always felt like I was right there beside him when I read his blog.
I first met Evan in the late 90′s at a USWF event. He went on to fight Darrel Gholar at UFC 18 and I had my first chance to see him fight live on ppv in a real NHB fight. From that moment on, I was Evan’s #1 fan. We grew close over the years through our mutual love for MMA. I helped him out in the final days of the USWF when he was the owner/promoter. He took some time off in 1999-2000 to do some soul searching. We lost contact for a while. But then, he came back for two fights in the last two USWF events and then his return to the UFC at UFC 29.
Our lives were re-connected when Zuffa bought the UFC and I came on staff full time. Since then, we’ve always been around each other or in touch with each other. Evan was very much a loaner, but I always felt like I was one of the few people he could relate to. Because I knew where he came from. I knew what he had been through. And I was still his #1 fan through all of that. Anytime he called me to ask a favor, I dropped what I was doing to help. And likewise for me, anytime I need his help with something, he put everything else on hold to make it happen.
It had been a few weeks since I had seen him at the TUF finale, but like I said, reading his blogs always made me feel like I was right there with him. The last thing I ever said to him was how courageous and tough he was for the performance he gave against Kendall at the Finale and that’s why he’s my favorite fighter and hero. In his typically modest fashion, he cracked a tiny smile through the full beard, patted me on the shoulder, and said “Thanks Josh”.
He was misunderstood by so many people, but he also touched so many people. For every person who disagreed with the way he lived his life, there were 100 of us who respected it and wished we shared the same outlook and approach to life. He lived every day for the moment. Never having a plan. Just living. And he had so many great experiences along the way. If I only experience a fraction of what Evan Tanner did in his lifetime, I will have led a wonderful life.
So Evan, as you ride your Harley off into the sunset… May you rest in peace. You will be missed. I’ll see you again my friend.
Last night was one of the later nights on record for me. Didn’t go to sleep this morning until about 8am and then had to be back up at 10:30 for breakfast with Leslie’s sisters. Had a great time at the fights, despite being a little under the weather. I was really pleased that a lot of the fights lived up to the hype and a couple even impressed me more than expected.
I thought Pellegrino/Tavares was fight of the night, for sure, and a good candidate for fight of the year. Pellegrino just looked awesome, especially in round 1 where he droped Tavares twice and looked to be in position to finish the fight. It was one of the more dominant single rounds I’ve witnessed in a long time. But then for Thiago to turn around and take round 2 was just awesome. Other than the fact that he clearly tapped to a tight armbar in the second, he controlled the round and got himself right back in the fight. But Pellegrino stayed strong and pulled out the victory with a gutsy third round performance.
Tim Boetsch also looked great. That dude hits fucking hard. Patt took a few good shots before the crushing KO blow. Props to him for taking that fight on such short notice.
Due to Hurricane Ike, the Ft Lauderdale trip for WEC was cancelled, so we’re hanging out in the hotel room in Atlanta today and flying back tomorrow. It’s really nice to have a day to just chill and not worry about work or anything. I’m kicking back in this cozy bed watching Andy Murray vs. Rafael Nadal at the US Open. If Murray can pull out the victory, I’ll win about $150, woohoo! I’ve also got money on Jankovic tonight in the women’s final. If both her and Murray win, Joshy might be buying a new gun soon. 
