Former Ultimate Fighting Championship star Ryan Jimmo was killed in Edmonton, Canada, in a hit-and-run incident on Sunday, aged 34.
The ex-UFC fighter’s aunt, Sharon Jimmo, spoke to CBC News and confirmed the news her nephew had died, saying it “doesn’t seem possible”:
He was a people person, he loved everyone. He was so kind. He was a fighter but personally he was a great guy.
Ryan would help anyone would need it, he was just that kind of guy. He lived his life the way he wanted, he was happy-go-lucky. It’s terrible, it’s hard to wrap your head around, it just doesn’t seem possible.
His aunt, per Mack Lamoureux of CBC News, said Jimmo was preparing to move back to the Alberta city and was “only in town for a couple of days” before Sunday’s incident.
UFC President Dana White paid his respects to the fighter, who last represented the promotion just over a year ago, boasting a mixed martial arts record of 19-5:
Jimmo last fought for the UFC at a UFC Fight Night event in May 2015, when he lost to light heavyweight opponent Francimar Barroso via unanimous decision.
White wasn’t alone in sending his respects to Jimmo, either, as former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman joined those mourning his death:
Jimmo found his UFC start on the eighth season of The Ultimate Fighter, the show that also gave fellow heavyweight Roy Nelson his first chance with the promotion:
Simmo’s most famous moment in the UFC was his seven-second knockout of Anthony Perosh at UFC 149, and lightweight Michael Chiesa provided a timely reminder of the veteran at his comedic best:
CBC News said police reported the car that struck Jimmo “was occupied by at least two Caucasian males” at the time of the incident, which occurred in the car park of the H2O Lounge on Whyte Avenue and 101st Street.
Per Lamoureux, Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident, which occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning.
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