As 2016 rapidly draws to a conclusion and we take stock of the year gone by, one trend that casts a long shadow is the alarming number of past and present MMA fighters who’ve died over the past 12 months. Unfortunately the sport of mixed martial arts is still too young for this to simply
As 2016 rapidly draws to a conclusion and we take stock of the year gone by, one trend that casts a long shadow is the alarming number of past and present MMA fighters who’ve died over the past 12 months.
Unfortunately the sport of mixed martial arts is still too young for this to simply be a case of stars passing away due to old age. In fact, with the age of the 10 fighters listed here ranging from just 25-49 years old, we are left having to come to terms with the fact that these were 10 lives that were simply taken far too soon.
A knee-jerk reaction would be to assume that these deaths occurred due to injuries they sustained in the cage, but the truth is that only one of the ten passed away in that manner – although we can surely all agree that’s one too many.
As you’ll read in the pages to follow however, the reasons for the others deaths are just as hard to accept, from sudden medical emergencies to apparent suicide, from freak accidents to cold-blooded murder.
Former Bellator MMA fighter Ivan Cole passed away on Saturday, June 11, 2016 after suffering a gunshot wound to the head following an alleged game of Russian roulette.
Specific details regarding the incident that resulted in Cole losing his life thi…
Former Bellator MMA fighter Ivan Cole passed away on Saturday, June 11, 2016 after suffering a gunshot wound to the head following an alleged game of Russian roulette.
Specific details regarding the incident that resulted in Cole losing his life this weekend are scarce, however CBS DFW is reporting that Cole died of a self-inflicted gunshot after playing a game of Russian roulette.
“BREAKING NEWS: Mixed Martial Arts fighter Ivan “J.P.” Cole killed himself while reportedly playing roulette with gun in Dallas apartment. CBS 11 has reached out to the Dallas Police Dept. for further details, and has a crew heading to the scene.”
Additionally, Cole’s mother issued the following statement to the New York Daily News:
“Some say it was about money, someone said something about Russian Roulette, but I don’t have any facts now. I’m a bit devastated at this time.”
More shocking news in the mixed martial arts community… It’s been a pretty rough few months in the mixed martial arts world, as we’ve dealt with the losses of multiple stars in 2016. Former UFC heavyweight champion Kevin Randleman passed suddenly in February, rising Bellator MMA prospect Jordan Parsons died following a harrowing hit-and-run incident,
More shocking news in the mixed martial arts community…
It’s been a pretty rough few months in the mixed martial arts world, as we’ve dealt with the losses of multiple stars in 2016. Former UFC heavyweight champion Kevin Randleman passed suddenly in February, rising Bellator MMA prospect Jordan Parsons died following a harrowing hit-and-run incident, boxing great Muhammad Ali left us aged 74 years old, and of course Kimbo Slice died of heart failure in the same week.
But the tragedies in 2016 just keep coming, as we learn of Dallas-based Bellator and Legacy FC veteran Ivan Cole’s accidental death yesterday (June 11, 2016). The official police report states the death is currently under investigation, and is classified as unexplained while the facts are gathered. CBS later reported that his untimely death was as a result of a game of Russian roulette gone wrong. He was 25 years old and is survived by a four year old daughter.
CBS reported the following: Mixed Martial Arts fighter Ivan “J.P.” Cole killed himself while reportedly playing roulette with gun in Dallas apartment. CBS 11 has reached out to the Dallas Police Dept. for further details, and has a crew heading to the scene.
The official Dallas police report stated:
On June 11, 2016, at approximately 7:31 a.m., officers responded to a shooting in the 13700 block of Montfort Drive. Officers found Ivan Robert-Earnest Cole, B/M 25-years-old, deceased. The death of Mr. Cole will be classified as an unexplained death pending the results of the autopsy. This incident is documented on case number 140985-2016.
‘J.P.’s’ wife Kymberli Cole has opened a GoFundMe page to raise funds for funeral costs and childcare in the wake of this tragic accident:
“I lost my husband to gun play,” Kymberli Cole wrote on a GoFundMe page one day after the couple celebrated their second year of marriage.
“He made a bad decision that cost him his life,” added Cole’s widow, pleading for money to pay for the fighter’s funeral and help raise their 4-year-old daughter.
RIP Ivan ‘J.P.’ Cole, our thoughts go out to you, your family, friends, fans and team at this sad time.
![Ivan-JP_Cole[1]](http://cdn.lowkickmma.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Ivan-JP_Cole1.jpg)
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