Tim Hague, the former UFC fighter known as ‘The Thrashing Machine,’ died on Sunday, two days after he was critically injured when he was knocked out in a boxing match.
Hague switched codes to fight Braidwood, a former Canadian Football League player with the Edmonton Eskimos, on Friday night, and was sent crashing to the canvas following a flurry of shots in the second round.
After receiving urgent medical attention in the ring, Hague was eventually able to get back to his feet and leave the arena with the assistance of his team. But he was later taken to the hospital and had surgery to relieve pressure on his brain, having been left in a coma, but he died on Sunday.
Hague’s sister, Jackie Neil, announced the death in a family statement.
“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.”
The match Friday night at the Shaw Conference Centre was promoted by KO Boxing.
The 33-year-old Hague, who grew up on a farm in Boyle, Alberta, was a heavyweight trained in jiu-jitsu. He was 21-13 as an MMA fighter before switching to boxing last summer.
After he had been taken to hospital, Hague’s friend and fellow MMA fighter Cody Krahn took to Facebook to issue a brief statement, which was later deleted.
The post originally read: ‘Once we got Tim backstage and with the doctor, we could tell he needed to go to the hospital. Tim is currently in a coma. He had to have surgery to relieve pressure from his brain.’
The serious injury to UFC star Hague comes just two months before superstar of the sports Conor McGregor is set to switch codes to face boxing legend Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas.
