I have been a long-time Evan Tanner fan and have documented some if his struggles here at MMA HQ over the past few years.
Most recently it appeared that Evan was getting back into the MMA scene and had moved down to California to train with the Chute Boxe team there. Rumors began to surface that Tanner would return at UFC 76, and then that he would return at UFC 79. Well, Last week Evan stated that he was never offered any fights with the UFC, that his training with Chute Boxe didn’t work out and that he hasn’t spoken to Joe Silva or Dana White in quite sometime.
Yesterday, Evan posted his most recent public soul-bearing update to his personal website. Regardless of whether or not he ever fights again in Mixed Martial Arts, I hope Evan can get his life together and find the personal peace and success that he is searching for.
I am setting a date.
I have been drinking like a madman for fifteen years.
I am done with it.
I am setting a date.
It has ruined my career. It has ruined my health. I have lost the respect of my peers. I have lost my family. I have lost so many friends. I have lost the women I have loved. I have been arrested, wrecked cars, spent nights in jail, gotten in fights, gambled and drunk away hundreds of thousands of dollars, raged like a beast, talked like a fool. I lost my home, gone deep into debt, ruined my credit, and now I’m at risk of losing the last few things I own. I have destroyed my life. All because of drinking. I have made so many mistakes. I have disappointed so many who believed in me. Embarrassed so many who loved me. Almost everything bad that can be said about a man, has been said about me.
I am done with it.
I am setting a date.
There will be those of you who understand me, who will hear me. There will be those who laugh, and ridicule. I am willing to bear the weight of that if any of these words might reach anyone, might have meaning to anyone, if this vision might give hope to anyone.
I choose to Believe
I will always believe there is some magic out there. I will always believe there is some magic within me. If we stop believing, our spirits die. I refuse to let my spirit die.
I choose to Believe.
I am setting a date.
I am setting a date, and on that day I will stop drinking. That will be the day I begin to be a better man. That will be the day I begin to find the best of me. That will be the day I begin to find the best of what life can be. I want to find the magic. Join me. If you want to make a change in your life, join me. If any of you want to find the best of yourself, join me. If you want to find your own magic, join me. I am going to quit drinking, get back into training, and step into the Octagon again, and when I do, it will be dedicated to all of you who have the courage to believe in the best of what you can be, all of you who have the courage to stand up with me and face your fears and weaknesses. We will stand shoulder to shoulder, an unconquerable army. BELIEVE in what you can do, and it will happen.
I am setting a date.
It has been said that I am done, that I will never fight again. It has been said that I have no chance of ever being a champion again. I refuse to accept that. I challenge you to believe in yourself. I challenge you to do what they say can not be done. Join this army of unconquerable souls.
I choose to believe.
I am setting a date.
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Tags: UFC, MMA, Evan Tanner
(via MMA HQ - Mixed Martial Arts News and Analysis)