Tragedy struck when former UFC flyweight Geane Herrera, 33, was killed in a devastating motorcycle accident in Tampa, Florida, as reported by the New York Post. Released from the UFC in 2016, Herrera was involved in a fatal collision late Saturday night. Authorities confirmed he was thrown from his bike after striking a concrete barrier and was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident occurred as Herrera was reportedly speeding at a high rate of speed.
Before his untimely passing, Herrera, born in California, had crafted a commendable 8-0 record before entering the UFC in 2014. His UFC stint from 2015 to 2016 saw him fight four times, tallying a 1-3 record. Recently, Herrera had been active in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships, marking a victory over Abdiel Velazquez by TKO in 2021.
The loss of Herrera leaves behind a teenage son and a pregnant girlfriend, with a GoFundMe page now launched to support them in their time of need.
View this post on Instagram
“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. He was such a happy go lucky person that left a mark in everyone that came into his life,” wrote Melissa Herrera on the fundraising page.
“Geane was a hustler and started doing all kinds of odd jobs to make ends meet and make sure his kids and family was taken care of. Geane coming from an immigrant family wanted to make the difference and make his Colombian-American community proud.”
"*" indicates required fields
In memory of Herrera, the family is facing up to $50,000 in funeral expenses. “We are asking family, friends, fans, the UF community, the BKFC community, the fighting world and any stranger that can relate to our tragedy for support. Any little bit counts, please donate and help Geane’s family deal with this tragedy in any way. Geane you will always be in our hearts!”
View this post on Instagram
Paying homage to Herrera, fellow UFC competitor Ray Borg, who defeated him in his debut, expressed his sympathies: “He was a good guy, my prayers are with him and his family during this tough time,” Borg shared on Instagram.
Herrera’s tragic end echoes the fatal trend among athletes, highlighted by the recent death of marathon record-setter Kelvin Kiptum, also in a high-speed crash. Herrera’s story is a grim reminder of the dangers lurking on the roads.