Former UFC flyweight Gene Herrera died Saturday in a motorcycle accident in Tampa, Florida, according to multiple reports. He was 33 years old.
The crash occurred around 10:45 p.m. on the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles’ Gandy Bridge, where Herrera struck the rear of another vehicle at an “extremely high speed.” he told TMZ.
The mixed martial artist then crashed into a concrete barrier and was thrown from his bike, the media reported.
Herrera was pronounced dead at the scene.
Just shy of his 34th birthday, Herrera made his UFC debut on August 25, 2015 at UFC Fight Night 73 against Ray Borg.
He lost the bout by unanimous decision, but defeated Joby Sanchez by TKO three months later.
Herrera lost his last two fights in the UFC and moved to Absolute Champion Berkut in 2018.
He made his debut in 2021 at the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship, defeating Abdiel Velasquez by TKO.
family Set up a GoFundMe Tributes to the late MMA fighter are being posted on social media.
“Our family is tragically devastated by the loss of our beloved Jane Carlos Herrera, known in the world of professional martial arts as ‘La Pulga’, cut so short at just 33 years old. . “Gene leaves behind a 16-year-old son, a girlfriend who is three months pregnant, a mother, father, sister, brother, and family who loved him and will miss him very much,” the family wrote on the GoFundMe page.
“Gene was full of life, always trying to live life to the fullest, and was a dedicated athlete with big dreams of making a difference and leaving his mark on this world. He is truly a happy and lucky man. He was a great person and left a mark on everyone he touched in his life.”
Borg paid tribute to Herrera in an Instagram post. According to the BBC.
“He was a good man and my prayers are with him and his family during this difficult time,” Borg wrote.
