Samman is reportedly in a coma and fighting for his life after being found unresponsive alongside friend and roommate Troy Kirkingburg. Kirkingburg, who was a ring announcer for the Samman-owned promotion Combat Night, was pronounced dead on arrival at a south Florida hospital.
It is currently unclear what caused the condition of the two men. According to the report, Samman and Kirkingburg had “deep ties” to Tallahassee but lived in Hollywood Beach Gardens.
“I think it has taken a lot of the community and his friends by shock, completely unexpected out of the both of them,” Tallahassee resident Joe Blackwood told the Democrat. “Both are great, great people who do a lot for the community and are well-known in the community. It has completely blindsided everybody.”
Samman, 28, competed on Season 17 of “The Ultimate Fighter” and compiled a 3-2 mark in five Octagon appearances. He last competed at UFC Fight Night 91 on July 13, when he suffered a second-round TKO loss to Tim Boetsch. Samman is 12-4 over the course of a professional MMA career that began in 2007.