UPDATE: Former UFC fighter Corey Hill has not died, despite reports from TMZ and an official statement from the UFC. For more details on this situation, click here.
Former UFC fighter and contestant on season five of The Ultimate Fighter, Corey Hill, passed away at age 36 after suffering from a sudden bout of pneumonia.
According to TMZ Sports, who spoke with Hill’s friend Jennifer Swift, the TUF 5 alum was diagnosed with pneumonia only a few weeks ago.
The story goes that Hill underwent a lung transplant, however the lung collapsed and things reportedly “went downhill from there.”
According to those close to the situation, Hill was placed on life support and at some point, his family ultimately made the decision to pull the plug, and the veteran MMA fighter died on Thursday morning, May 14, 2015.
Corey Hill, known for being an abnormally tall fighter for the Welterweight division at 6’4”, made his official Octagon debut after competing on The Ultimate Fighter’s fifth season, at “UFC Fight Night: Swick vs. Burkman” back in January of 2008.
Hill, who last competed in professional MMA just three months ago, suffering a loss to Jose Caceres at the Fight Time 23 “Mayhem In Miami” event, is most famously known as the fighter who suffered a gruesome leg break during his fight against Dale Hartt at the first ever “UFC Fight For The Troops” event in December of 2008.
Hill finished his pro MMA career with a record of 6-9.
MMANews.com extends its’ condolences and sympathies to the family and friends of the respected MMA veteran.
