evan tanner

Former UFC middleweight champion Evan Tanner , an ultra-popular MMA veteran who hasn’t fought in 14 months, will likely make his much-anticipated return to the Octagon at UFC 76 in late September, according to a MMAjunkie.com source associated with the event.

“I’ve looked at Kendall’s fights. The guys that really pressure him hard do real well against him so that’s really what I’m looking to do,” stated former UFC middleweight champion Evan Tanner as he talked about his upcoming clash with Kendall Grove at The Ultimate Fighter 7 Finale. Check out what else he had to say a.

Evan Tanner on his split decision loss to Kendall Grove at The Ultimate FIghter Finale. Kendall Grove prepares for his fight this Saturday against Evan Tanner. This was at the Ultimate Fighter season 7 finale, after his win over Evan Tanner, former UFC Champ.

KNOXX Video Christine Lee Interviews Paul “The Head Hunter” Buentello. Paul talks about how he got his nickname, Evan Tanner, Heath Herring, how he started MMA and his first fight in UFC.

This video shows his techniques and different circuits.

Evan Tanner, Gray Maynard, Eric Schafer, and WEC Featherweight Champion Miguel Angel Torres hang out at the Harley Davidson 105th Anniversary.

According to Evan Tanner’s manager John hayner, Tanner went for a rideo n his motorcyle in the desrt and ran out of gas.

After losing his belt, Tanner began training with American Top Team, but lost his next fight to David Loiseau at Ultimate fight Night 2.

Tanner then won the UFC Middleweight title at UFC 51, stopping David Terrell with strikes in the first round.

Tanner made his UFC debut in 1999 at UFC 18, submitting fellow Amarillo native Darrell Gholar by rear naked choke in the first round.

Tanner’s fight against Franklin at UFC 53 was for more than just the UFC Middleweight title, as the winner of the fight would also become one of the coaches for the The Ultimate Fighter 2 reality show. Tanner expressed a lot of interest in being one of the coaches, stating that the opportunity would give him tremendous exposure.

Tanner was awarded the belt and became the first UFC Middleweight champion since Murilo Bustamante held the title before leaving for PRIDE Fighting Championships in 2002. Tanner was given the opportunity to avenge his loss to Rich Franklin at UFC 53, who had also decided to drop down to the Middleweight division after fighting as a Light-Heavyweight for years.

With three victories in the UFC, Tanner received a title shot against UFC Light-Heavyweight champion Tito Ortiz at UFC 30. Tanner, with a wrestling background, began fighting in 1997 when he was convinced by friends to enter a local MMA tournament, hosted by the now defunct Unified Shoot Wrestling Federation.

Tanner credits his ability to enjoy success while standing with Baroni because of training with his newly hired boxing coach, Curtis Crawford.

Tanner then faced Phil Baroni in consecutive fights at UFC 45 and UFC 48 respectively. In the early minutes of their fight at UFC 45, Baroni was in control as he stunned and bloodied Tanner. Baroni maintains that it was a verbal miscommunication and he never asked for the fight to be stopped.

Tanner was ahead on points until the fight was stopped in the second round due to a cut Tanner received from Loiseau’s elbow. After this defeat, Tanner took time away to deal with some personal issues but stated that he would become an official member of the Chute Boxe team.

Tanner was able to knock Franklin down with a right hand in the first round of the bout but Franklin took control from there, dominating Tanner until the fight was stopped by the ringside doctor due to a TKO by Franklin.

Tanner’s only fight during the hiatus was at a charity event hosted by the Full Contact Fighting Federation. Tanner was victorious against Shannon Ritch, submitting him with a triangle choke in the first round.

Tanner returned to the UFC in April of 2006 at UFC 59, defeating Justin Levens by way of triangle choke.

Tanner would be victorious three more times in the UFC before taking another hiatus from June 2002 to April 2003.

Levens was a late replacement for Jeremy Horn who was originally scheduled to fight Tanner but was forced to withdraw after a training injury.

On December 29, 2006, Tanner unveiled plans to set up a mixed martial arts training camp that would reside in his house in Gresham, Oregon.

Tanner recently lost to Kendall Grove in a split decision at The Ultimate Fighter 7 Finale on June 21, 2008. Tanner was reported as missing near a camp ground near Palo Verde, CA, and a body, presumed to be that of Tanner’s was found near the campsite where he had been staying.

Tanner traveled from Las Vegas to Gresham in the following weeks and began to set up the project.

There are just too many young strong fihgters out there these days for an old man like Tanner to reign again.

R - Totally agree with the suggested matchups for Tanner. Tanner can take a beating and keep coming back for more, so I think he could weather some shots from McFedries and eventually submit him.

I honestly think Tanner could come back and challenge for the title, if not actually grasp it. Regardless of what happens, I am very glad he’s back.

Loiseau looked dreadful in that fight against Tanner. 22 event, which takes place at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., will “likely” include Tanner on the fight card.