UFC middleweight Josh Samman passed away on Wednesday after spending nearly a week in a Florida hospital comatose following a probable drug overdose. He was 28. According to Dr. Craig Mallak, the chief medical examiner for Broward County, the fighter had been hospitalized for 5 days, he was brain-dead for 2 days.
He and roommate Troy Kirkingburg was discovered by a friend last September 29 in his Florida apartment both unresponsive. Kirkingburg, who was an announcer for local MMA promotions, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said they were called to the home in the 2200 block of North 58th Avenue just before 7:15 p.m. in reference to a possible overdose. However, Samman’s mother issued a statement earlier this week refuting that heroin was involved.
“Josh is still in a coma, and more tests are being done. That is the latest update on my son’s condition,” Samman’s mother said in the statement. “And in spite of speculation, there was no heroin found in Josh’s system whatsoever. No matter what people are posting on social media.”
Samman remained comatose for several days and was moved to a hospice late Tuesday night. Confirmation of his passing came Wednesday morning via the Tallahassee Democrat.
Samman first debuted as a cast member on season 17 of “The Ultimate Fighter” and was coached by Jon Jones. He went 3-2 during his UFC tenure and was scheduled to fight Oluwale Bamgbose on Dec. 9 at UFC Fight Night in Albany.