This archive report was first published on 15 July 2020.
On July 15, 2020, the MMA community was left reeling with the news of the sudden death of Jahreau Shepherd, a 30-year-old welterweight champion with MMA promotion Contenders.
Shepherd, from London, was known for his aggressive fighting style and had a 6-2 record in professional MMA, including five knockout victories.
Contenders released a statement expressing their devastation at Shepherd's death, describing him as 'hugely talented and great fun to be around, a big personality with a huge smile and infectious laugh.'
Shepherd had previously been signed to Cage Warriors and also fought in Bellator, UCMMA, and Fusion FC. He won the welterweight championship at Contenders 29 in February, beating Quinten de Vreught by unanimous decision.
As news of his death spread, tributes poured in from the MMA community, with commentator Michael Morgan describing Shepherd as 'a true gentleman inside and outside the cage' and film director Bobby Razak saying 'RIP Jahreau Shepherd may your journey continue in bliss.'
