On October 5, 2016, the MMA world lost one of its most promising and inspiring fighters. Josh Samman, a 28-year-old middleweight who competed in the UFC and The Ultimate Fighter, was found unresponsive in his apartment, along with his friend and roommate Troy Kirkingburg, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Samman was rushed to the hospital, where he remained in a coma for several days, before succumbing to his injuries. The cause of death was later revealed to be a drug overdose, involving heroin and fentanyl. How did this happen? What led him to this fate? And what legacy did he leave behind? In this video, we will explore the life and death of Josh Samman, one of the most intriguing and complex figures in MMA history. Let’s get started.
Josh Samman was born on March 14, 1988, in Des Moines, Iowa, to a Palestinian father and a Southern mother. He grew up in Tallahassee, Florida, where he developed a passion for martial arts and chess. He was a smart and creative kid, but also rebellious and restless. He started using drugs at an early age and dropped out of school at 16. He moved out of his mother's house and got involved in petty crimes. He was arrested several times and spent time in jail and rehab. But despite his troubles, Samman never gave up on his dream of becoming a professional fighter. He made his amateur MMA debut in 2006 and turned pro the next year. He quickly established himself as a dominant force in the regional circuit, winning nine of his first 11 fight