EX-UFC fighter Hague dies after boxing KO

‘Thrashing Machine’ injured in bout in Canada

EDMONTON, Alberta — Tim Hague, the former UFC fighter known as “The Thrashing Machine,” died Sunday, two days after he was critically injured when he was knocked out in a boxing match against former Edmonton Eskimos defensive end Adam Braidwood.

Hague’s sister, Jackie Neil, announced the death in a family statement.

“It is with incredible sadness, sorrow and heartbreak to report that Tim has passed away today,” the statement said. “He was surrounded by family, listening to his favorite songs. We will miss him so greatly.”

The match Friday night at the

Shaw Conference Centre was promoted by KO Boxing.

Hague, 34, who grew up on a farm in Boyle, Alberta, was a heavyweight trained in jiu-jitsu. He was 21-13 as an MMA fighter before switching to boxing last summer.

Hague made his UFC debut with a stunning upset over Pat Barry on the UFC 98 card in May 2009 at the MGM Grand Garden. He lost his next three fights in the organization and was subsequently released in 2010.

He got another shot in 2011, but was again released following a knockout loss to Matt Mitrione in 2011.

UFC officials declined comment on Hague’s death beyond a statement of condolence on the organization’s website.

“The UFC sends its sincerest condolences to the family and friends of former UFC heavyweight Tim Hague, who passed away on Sunday,” the statement read.

Hague had gone 1-4 as an MMA fighter over the last two years between Canada and Russia, with all four defeats coming by knockout. He also suffered a boxing knockout loss in December.

During Friday night’s fight, Hague was knocked down several times before the fight was stopped. He got

up under his own power, but was soon taken to the hospital according to several accounts.

An emotional Braidwood, who considered Hague a friend, spoke to CTV News in Canada on Monday.

“It’s not a good thing for anyone involved,” Braidwood said. “I knew, man. I knew in the ring. I just saw the way he fell.

“I waited on my knees for Tim to move after I did my stupidittle celebration. Like, I don’t care about that. People can say what they want. I waited on my knees. I watched him. I picked him up, because his team was struggling to pick him up. I carried him to the corner, and I could see in his face.”

Braidwood also fired back at critics of the commission, which allowed a 1-2 boxer in Hague to take on a

7-1 opponent despite the amount of knockouts he had suffered in the past two years, and the referee who allowed the fight to continue after the early knockdowns.

Review-journal staff writer Adam Hill contributed to this story.