The sad fall from grace continues for former UFC middleweight champion, Evan Tanner.
Little more than two years ago he was the 185-pound world champion, competing against the top names if the sport. Today, he's perhaps in the biggest fight of his life, tipping the bottle instead of training for a much-anticipated comeback.
Indeed, reports that Tanner would return at in December against Dean Lister appear to have taken a turn for the worse -- if they were even in the works in the first place.
Here's a snip from Tanner in a recent message on his Web site:
"I quit drinking for a while. I was doing so well. I thought I was in control of that vice. I went out with some friends and decided to have a beer. It's been downhill since.... I've been on the road for almost two years. I'm tired. I'm tired of drinking, I'm tired of living out of bags, I'm tired of not feeling home. And where is home? I imagine being in the gym again. I imagine stepping into the Octagon again, and in some strange way, those thoughts bring me comfort. That is my home. I know it's time to come home. I have not been training at all, despite what the rumors say. I've signed no fights. I'm so far gone, living on the road, drinking myself into oblivion, that in moments of weakness, I wonder if I can make it back. It's going to be a long road."
Tanner has a ton of support from UFC fans who want to see him back in action. However, it appears that it will not be anytime soon -- certainly not on December 29 -- if he can't get himself back on track.
And at age 36, he's not only fighting a horrible affliction, but Father Time, too.