Emanuel Yarbrough, an early UFC competitor and formerly the world’s heaviest athlete, died on Monday at the age of 51.
The UFC shared the news, saying Yarbrough died in Richmond, Va.
Yarbrough was known by MMA fans for having fought at UFC 3 back when the organization lacked the rules and weight classes seen presently in the sport. Weighing over 600 pounds, he fought and lost to Keith Hackney, a man a third of his size.
Yarbrough was a two-sport star at Morgan State in college where he wrestled and played football, receiving All-American honors in both sports. He later became the 1995 World Amateur Sumo champion and ranked second in the US Nationals in judo in 1989.
Standing at 6-foot-8, Yarbrough was said to have weighed as much as 887 pounds at his peak. In some of his MMA fights, he weighed nearly 700 pounds.
Below are some photos of him from October, a few months before his death Monday.
Dan "The Beast" Severn chilling in Syracuse. pic.twitter.com/X7RWjrtNCf
— Emanuel Yarbrough (@TinySumo) October 4, 2015
Who would have ever thunk it, my own action figure pic.twitter.com/6RJI9FcTW1
— Emanuel Yarbrough (@TinySumo) October 4, 2015
Enjoying one on my birthday. pic.twitter.com/qgWFUODsvR
— Emanuel Yarbrough (@TinySumo) October 11, 2013
Yarbrough fought three times during his MMA career, going 1-2. Here are videos from all three fights.
His win vs. Tatsuo Nakano:
Loss to Keith Hackney at UFC 3:
Loss to Daiju Takase:
