Following a knockout Friday at KO 78 in Edmonton, Alberta that left him in critical condition, former UFC heavyweight Tim Hague has died. Hague’s sister, Jackie Neil, released a statement on behalf of the family Sunday.
“It is with incredible sadness, sorrow and heartbreak to report that Tim has passed away today. He was surrounded by family, listening to his favorite songs. We will miss him with so greatly. We ask for privacy during this difficult time.”
Early reports Saturday indicated that Hague had been declared brain dead, then passed, however always a fighter, Hague stuck in there a little longer. The former UFC, WSOF, and King of the Cage heavyweight was just thirty-four years old.
The incident stemmed from a bout against former Canadian Football League player Adam Braidwood, a 7-1 pro boxer. Hague took the bout on short notice, and owned a 1-2 record in professional boxing coming in to the fight. The lone victory had come years earlier. He’d also been knocked out multiple times, suffering four knockout losses in his final five MMA bouts. The most recent came in July 2016 at ACB 41. Just months earlier, he had won the XFC heavyweight championship against UFC vet Kalib Starnes. In February of this year, he suffered a knockout loss in a boxing match against Mladen Miljas.
Hague finished his MMA career 21–13 overall. Fifteen of his twenty-one wins came by knockout. “The Thrashing Machine” (named from growing up on a farm) scored arguably his biggest win by submitting the popular Pat Berry in the first round of UFC 98.
Tim Hague leaves behind a young son, Brady, who he spoke of in a 2015 interview with Bleacher Report’s Hunter Homistek. “Returning a champion to my son after I told him I wanted to become one would be special for all of us” he said at the time, prior to a Unified MMA bout against Tanner Bosser. Hague did win the title, and the XFC belt a year after that.
Our heartfelt condolences go out to Tim’s family, friends, and teammates during this difficult time.
