Official cause of death determined for MMA fighter Sam Vasquez

by Jesse Holland on Apr 8, 2008 2:12 AM EDT Comment 22 comments

For MMA fans, the day we hoped would never come (but knew eventually would) is unfortunately here.

Mixed martial arts competitor Sam Vasquez has become the sport's first fatality resulting from injuries sustained in a sanctioned MMA fight according to the Houston Chronicle's Chron.com.

Vasquez, 35, died last November of complications from head trauma suffered at the hands of opponent Vince Libardi at Renegades Extreme Fighting on October 20.

The official cause of death reported by the medical examiner's office was complications from blunt trauma to the head with subdural hemorrhage.

Despite two surgeries and prompt medical care, Vasquez was unable to recover after being knocked out in the third round. He was admitted to St. Joseph Medical Center and eventually transferred to an area hospice on November 26.

Subdural hemorrhage is considered a rare injury in sports - even in boxing. Steve Sievert has some interesting facts in his article from an orthopedic surgeon regarding this particular injury.

Here's a snip:

"This type of injury is common in the 'regular world,' say when a person falls and hits their head...but in combat sports, this injury is very, very rare...I'll give you a for instance...(Boxers) Kelly Pavlik and Jermain Taylor fought in February. It went 12 rounds, and Kelly Pavlik landed, I believe, 278 blows to the head, and Jermain Taylor landed 164 blows to the head. At UFC 82, (Cheick) Kongo versus (Heath) Herring - which they are both known to be standup guys - six head blows between the two of them. You just don't have that accumulation of head blows in MMA."

While there were some initial questions as to the pre-fight health of Sam Vasquez and his ability to compete, an investigation revealed that Vasquez, as well as veteran promoter Saul Soliz, had completed the necessary licensing requirements required to participate and that everything was done by the book.

It's an unfortunate turn of events for a sport that is still blossoming, but I certainly wouldn't call this a black-eye on MMA itself.

There was nothing out of the ordinary during the fight between Vasquez and Libardi. No stomps to the head, no late stoppages, just a competitive match with a tragic ending. That is the risk that all fighters must burden themselves with before each fight.

That is why at the very core of this sport, every competitor that steps into a cage or ring deserves a certain level of respect.

They deserve it from the fans, the promoters - and from each other.

Vasquez is survived by his wife Sandra and a seven-year old son. Anyone interested in contributing to the memorial fund that will help them financially should use this address:

TEXAS MMA FIGHT SHOP
c/o Sandra Vasquez
5720 Mobud Drive
San Antonio, Texas 78238

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Not to make light of the situation but considering the official cause of death took over four months (due to a “significant backlog of cases”) the medical examiner’s office might want to look into hiring a temp or at least someone to answer the phones so that they can have all hands on deck.

by Jesse Holland on Apr 8, 2008 2:15 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Jesse I’m sure they had a lot of other cases to deal with like murders and such being it was in Houston.

This is truly tragic but I’m glad to see it won’t affect the sport too bad.

by clint notestine on Apr 8, 2008 2:42 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

in the past I have donated a little bit to the vasquez family I hope others on here donate what they can as well.

by THORAZINE on Apr 8, 2008 3:22 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The Kongo-Herring fight is a bad example. Yeah, they’re both known as standup guys, but that fight was all on the ground.

I mean, the guy’s right that you don’t have nearly the same numbers of blows in MMA fights as in boxing, but that example doesn’t prove his point.

by arglebargle on Apr 8, 2008 3:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

RIP

by Holdin_Ropes on Apr 8, 2008 4:07 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree Jesse. That is just ridiculous. I mean, I can completely understand that murder cases take top priority because the suspect is still at large and must be found, and the results of the autopsy are very important for the case. In Vazquez’s instance, it was known exactly “who” killed him and the exact way in which it happened. This tells me one of two things. Either Jesse is 100% correct and they need quadruple the staff in the Houston ME office, because it truely seems like there are about 15 murders a day in Houston. Does anyone know that statistics on that? It may be interesting…

ALSO, what I was originally going to say. Did anyone see the video of this fight? I don’t have the time to go looking right now. If someone has a link to the fight, I’d GREATLY appeciate it.

by ViolentMike on Apr 8, 2008 8:56 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

ALSO, what I was originally going to say. Did anyone see the video of this fight? I don’t have the time to go looking right now. If someone has a link to the fight, I’d GREATLY appeciate it.

Indeed, not that I’m a sicko, but would be interesting to see the kind of strikes he endured in that bout.

RIP and All the best for his family

by ToeLock on Apr 8, 2008 9:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Arglebargle: That example is perfect; MMA isn’t all about punches to the head. :) There have been other fights where only a punch was thrown and a fight was ended by submission. Is that a bad description of MMA too?

by Brandt on Apr 8, 2008 9:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This drives the point home that the unified rules regarding (the lack of) stomps, kicks and knees to a downed opponent is a very good thing. I realize people got off on that style of combat in PRIDE et al. But it is potentially fatal. Perhaps there were no serious injuries in those battles. Nonetheless, the difference in the potential force of a kick to the face vs. a punch is huge. Just consider a Cro Cop stomp to the face vs. a Crop Cop punch. Massive difference in power and potential trauma.

by MMACrossfire on Apr 8, 2008 10:24 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

LET’S SEE if anyone keeps complaining about early stoppages by Mazzagatti now, this is just what could’ve happened to Houston or Karo if you all would’ve gotten the 4 more seconds of head pounding they each would have received if the fights had been allowed to continue. THINK ABOU IT

by Raze on Apr 8, 2008 10:47 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, this is the main reason I don’t agree with stomping a downed opponent. That’s not martial arts in my eyes, thats most like street brawling.

by Toms Bombs on Apr 8, 2008 11:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Its a shame. they did a “ten count” of silence at the mma event in houston this past weekend.

by Neihrick on Apr 8, 2008 12:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Its a shame. they did a “ten count” of silence at the mma event in houston this past weekend.

by Neihrick on Apr 8, 2008 12:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Not to be disrespectful or anything, but he looks like “Rocky” from that movie “Mask”. Sometimes if you have wierd shit like that, injuries can take rougher tolls on your body. Im sure all the MMA haters will love to play off of this one.

by c-war on Apr 8, 2008 1:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Raze
Apr 8th, 2008 at 9:47 am
LET’S SEE if anyone keeps complaining about early stoppages by Mazzagatti now, this is just what could’ve happened to Houston or Karo if you all would’ve gotten the 4 more seconds of head pounding they each would have received if the fights had been allowed to continue. THINK ABOUT IT

Good Point…
However I’m concerned about the quality of the refs officiating smaller shows. I have been to sanctioned events where I know for a fact the ref wasnt an MMA fighter but was good athlete and friends with the promoter. The persons officiating smaller shows should be properly trained and recieve certification before being allowed to ref any bout.

by Tobias808 on Apr 8, 2008 2:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i agree but i do believe it wasnt the case here it was a result of Subdural hemorrhage not necicerily cause from repetitive shot but rather from a sharp chance of velocity of the head. for example when someone falls back when drunk their head moves quickly and whips into the ground but the sudden stop causes the brain to shift quickly in the other direction and it tears veins which leak intothe area of the skull between the outer protective cover of the brain and the meningus!
its treatable and if very minor will heal itself but its very dangerous if surgeory.
it isnt necessarily cause by repitive blows but more likely one hard blow or bad fall

by the heat on Apr 9, 2008 11:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not to be disrespectful or anything, but he looks like “Rocky” from that movie “Mask”.

That’s fu*cked up. Please tell me you’re not an adult…

R.I.P. to the MMA fighter who lost his life.

by KRASH on Apr 8, 2008 3:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Please edit the donation info. It changed from that one to a foundation.

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=xclick&business=sv1873@yahoo.com&itemname=Ronin Foundation Donation&no_shipping=0&no_note=1&tax=0&currency_code=USD&lc=US&bn=PP-DonationsBF&charset=UTF-8

by Billy Gamble on Apr 8, 2008 4:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

RIP

I hate seeing deaths in any sports.
or anywhere for that matter.

by B. on Apr 8, 2008 4:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

R.I.P
Sam Vasquez

by mmafan on Apr 8, 2008 4:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

rest in peace

by carlos on Apr 8, 2008 8:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

he died doing what he loved and my greatest respect and deepest sympathies go out to all who know him
As a fighter its always sad to hear when a fellow comrad dies.
i hope many will donate to his family
i would like to know if i die doing what i love that people who know me would support my family.

R-I-P

by the heat on Apr 9, 2008 10:56 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs