Husband, father, and MMA Fighter Sam Vasquez passed away on November 30th 2007, after being hospitalized since an October 20th fight at a Renegades Extreme Fighting event.

It was widely speculated that Sammy had sustained a massive brain injury that occurred during the fight, and according to Steve Sievert at the Houston Chronicle, it has now been confirmed that Sam Vasquez is the first mixed martial arts fighter to die from injuries sustained in a sanctioned MMA match.

According to Steve Sievert’s article:

The official ruling from the medical examiner’s office stated that Vasquez died of “complications from blunt trauma to the head with subdural hemorrhage.”

A subdural hemorrhage occurs when a blood vessel bursts and blood builds up between the brain and its outer lining, which exerts pressure on the brain.

Most subdural hemorrhages are triggered by impact to the head, resulting from a car accident or severe fall. It’s an injury rarely seen in mixed martial arts.

R.I.P Sammy Vasquez.

It seems as though the sport of Mixed Martial Arts has had it’s first death from a sanctioned fight in the United States. I’m sure you’ve already read about Sammy Vasquez  being comatose and battling for his life since an October 20th MMA fight with Vince Libardi during a Renegades Extreme Fighting show in Houston, Texas.

Vasques took a number of punches from Libardi before collapsing in the ring and the fight was stopped at 2:50 of the third round. Medics tried to revive Vasquez in the ring for several minutes before he was taken St. Joseph Medical Center, where he remained until being transferred hospice care, where he died on November 30th.

Sammy Vasquez lived in Houston, Texas, and he left behind a wife (Sandra) and child (Ronin Rickson). A memorial fund has been set up by TEXAS MMA Fight Shop. Donations can be sent to:

TEXAS MMA FIGHT SHOP
c/o Sandra Vasquez
5720 Mobud
San Antonio, Texas 78238