by John Atchison

Created on: June 29, 2010   Last Updated: April 17, 2012

Since the emergence of Mixed Martial Arts on to the fight scene more than a decade ago, one of the allures to many of its loyal fans is the certain brand of toughness that is needed to be a member of its elite fraternity of fighters. Whenever a fighter climbs into that ring they realize that the very real possibility exists that serious injury or death may occur. It is a sport where different gloves, wrestling holds, and use of your legs comes into play, making the top notch fighters some of the most dangerous people in sport. Michael Kirkham took his turn in the ring on Saturday night and unfortunately left on a stretcher, never to regain consciousness again.

Michael Kirkham was pronounced dead early Monday after his first professional MMA fight ended with him unconscious and clinging to life.  Nicknamed "The Tree" for his imposing height at a gigantic 6 foot 9, Kirkham was making his debut in Aiken, South Carolina as a professional. He was the captain of his own "Fayetteville Independents" MMA team and Saturday was part of the the Dash Entertainment and King MMA co-promoted "Confrontation at the Convocation Center" event which took place on the South Carolina University Aiken Convocation Center.

Though he was 6'9 in height, Kirkham weighed in at only around 190 pounds, so he was not as imposing with his lack of weight. He had his own Facebook page in which his listed his record as a rather non-descript 3-3, perhaps signaling that this young man was not ready for the professional ranks. Nearly from the onset of the bout, Kirkham appeared to be over-matched and was taken down early in the fight by his opponent. At the time of the stoppage, which by all accounts was done properly and at the appropriate time, Kirkham had been pummeled by ground and pound punches that led to a referee stoppage.

At the time of the stoppage, medical personnel were quickly on the scene, but it was clear he was already in trouble. He had lost consciousness from the end of the fight. Medical care was administered and he was quickly moved from the ring to the Aiken Regional Medical Center where he was given various treatments, but to no avail. He was pronounced dead Monday morning of a brain hemorrhage. 

The local coroner, Mr. Tim Carlton, confirmed that the fighter was out at the conclusion of the fight all the way until his untimely passing Monday morning.  Though an autopsy is to be performed Tuesday, a teammate on his Fayetteville Independents

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