Fighter dies in SC following MMA contest

From the UG:

Last night at Conflict MMA Promotions: Fight Night @ The Point VI, in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, Tyrone Mimms made his amateur debut vs. Blake Poore, at a catch weight of 180, on the second fight of what was scheduled to be a 14-fight card.

According to fans in attendance, the 30-year-old, Augusta, Georgia based Mimms came out strong in the first, but gassed out in the second round. The referee stopped the fight. Mimms went backstage where he was stricken, apparently of a heart attack.

Attempts to revive him were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead at the hospital at 9:27 P.M. according to Charleston County Deputy Coroner Dottie Lindsay.

When the event organizers became aware of what happened, they scrapped the rest of the card and webcast.

Mimms was a member of an online MMA reality series titled Georgia Boy's Grits n Glory, where he was went by the nickname "Teesta." He fought out of the August Fight Club, under coach Chris Hauser.

The reality series producers also handled the webcast, and explained the cancellation, via Facebook.

We here at Georgia Boy's Grits-n-Glory apologize for the initial technical difficulties during our live broadcast tonight. We also would like to explain why the live feed was cut short. One of the fighters, who happened to be our own Tyrone "Teesta " Mimms, was fatally injured tonight, possibly as a result of his fight. The promoters and the South Carolina Fight Commission consulted with the fighters and all involved and decided as a result of the death of one of their own we should call off the rest of the fights. The promoters and the Athletic Commission did everything in their power according to protocol and this accident was beyond their control. We apologize for the inconvenience and hope you'll understand as we deal with the gravity of the situation. Our thoughts and prayers are with Teesta and his immediate family, which include his 5 children. We will do anything in our power to assist his family in their time of need and ask all of our fans for their prayers and support. We will update y'all as we know more about the arrangements for the services. Thanks for your support and understanding.

This is one of only a handful of deaths in mixed martial arts, but is the second death in South Carolina. Michael Kirkham died on Monday 28 June 2010, following his professional MMA debut on Saturday 26 June.

Both cards were regulated by the South Carolina Athletic Commission.

Mimms would have had to have met the standard requirements for licensing in SC, including blood work for HIV and Hepatitis, an opthamalogical exam, and a physical. Mims would also have been examined by a ringside physician the day of the event.

Further details will be provided as the story develops.

Blake Moore (l) vs. Tyrone Mimms (r)