UFC middleweight Josh Samman died Wednesday, according to a spokesperson from the Broward County (Florida) medical examiner and trauma services office.
He was 28.
Dr. Craig Mallak, the chief medical examiner for Broward County, says Samman had been hospitalized for five days, two of which he was brain-dead, before being declared dead Wednesday morning at a hospice.
Mallak said toxicology tests had been completed, and the cause of death would be listed as a probable drug overdose.
According to a report from the Hollywood Police Department, officers responding to a call for a "possible drug overdose" found Samman unresponsive in a friend's residence on Sept. 29. He was immediately transported to a nearby hospital. The friend, Troy Kirkingburg, 28, was pronounced dead at the scene. A cause of death has not been determined.
A UFC spokesperson told ESPN earlier this week the promotion was aware of Samman's condition and had been in contact with his management.
Originally from Tallahassee, Samman (12-4) debuted with the UFC in 2013, accumulating a 3-2 record. He is a former contestant on the UFC's reality series "The Ultimate Fighter." He has also contributed written works to BloodyElbow.com and UFC.com.
Last year, he released a memoir titled "The Housekeeper: Love, Death and Prizefighting." He last fought in July.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
