Former UFC fighter Geane Herrera has died after a fatal motorcycle crash in the US state of Florida.
Herrera, 33, reportedly crashed into the back of another vehicle at high speed and was thrown several metres after hitting a concrete barrier, before his motorcycle burst into flames, according to TMZ. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
It’s understood the other driver involved in the crash walked away unscathed.
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Herrera, who also competed in the bare knuckle championship, was due to turn 34 next week and is survived by his 16-year-old son and his girlfriend, who is three months pregnant.
“Geane was full of life, always trying to live life to the fullest, he was a dedicated athlete with big dreams of making a difference and leaving his print in this world,” his family said on a GoFundMe page to help support them after his death.
“He was such a happy-go-lucky person that left a mark on everyone that came into his life.”
Herrera showed promise during his MMA career, winning 10 of his 13 fights.
Herrera started his MMA career in 2011, going on to win eight fights in a row before getting a call from the UFC in 2015.
He lost his debut to Ray Borg via unanimous decision but fought under the promotion three more times and beat Joby Sanchez before going down to Ali Bagautinov and Ben Nguyen.
Former opponent Borg posted a tribute to the fallen fighter on Instagram, along with several fans, saying: “He was a good guy, my prayers are with him and his family during this tough time.”
One supporter posted: “Rest in peace UFC gem, Geane Herrera. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family in this difficult time.”
Another tweeted: “Rest in peace, Geane Herrera.”