KING: Life lesson resonates after death of Ultimate Fighter and UFC competitor Josh Samann sinks in

By Christopher King, MMATorch contributor

December 19, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Josh Samman throws punches against Tamdan McCrory during UFC Fight Night at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

It is 00.45 in the morning, I am still at work. I have just read Frank Gonzales’s piece on Josh Samman, which I found to be particularly poignant. Much like a lot of writing, you find it far more relevant if it relates, even in some small way, to yourself. 

For those who didn’t know Josh Samman, he took part in the UFC Ultimate Fighter and had some small success once he got to the Octagon, the highlight being a head kick knockout at UFC 181. He was to those who do not follow the sport closely a bit part UFC fighter who made an impact on a few of us who do, but who most Ronda Rousey or Connor McGregor fans probably will never have heard of.

For those who are not in the know, Josh Samman passed away last week from a possible drug overdose. He had a lot of demons in his life, and from an outsider looking in, it is easy to make rash judgements and think the worst. In the moments that he was cleared of his demons, he was an intelligent and articulate fighter, who like many of us got a little screwed over by life. It is how we overcome these trials and tribulations that make us the men and women we are.

There are times, for all of us, that we make bad choices.  We choose friends, work, wives, husbands, or something as simple as turning left or right. Josh Samman made a bad choice. I do not know the circumstances regarding his death, but I am deeply saddened by it.

We all make mistakes, some of us have our own demons. I am one. Although, I hope, on a far less serious scale. I was going to write a piece earlier this week on the importance of making weight for both fighters and fans alike. Then I was going to write an article on B.J. Penn and his cancellation which has forced the UFC’s hand in cancelling UFC Manilla.

I got busy, I never wrote either piece.  Some of the things I needed to do, some of it, I really didn’t. I wanted to watch UFC 204. I wanted to spend time with my fiancée. I wanted to have a few beers with the guys after work. I need to be up early, I need to do my job as that keeps the roof over our head. I need to keep my fiancée happy, or as less angry as humanly possible in my case.

If anyone out there has a destructive personality, and I know that I am sure as hell one of them, just keep an eye on the bigger picture, hopefully that keeps you from doing anything stupid.

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