Former UFC flyweight Geane Herrera died following a motorcycle accident on Saturday in Tampa, Florida, according to multiple reports. He was 33 years old.
The accident occurred around 10:45 p.m. when Herrera crashed into the back of another vehicle at a “very high rate of speed” at Gandy Bridge, the Florida Dept. of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles told TMZ.
The MMA fighter then struck a concrete barrier and was thrown from the motorcycle, the outlet reported.
Herrera was pronounced dead at the scene.
Herrera, who was just shy of his 34th birthday, made his debut in UFC on Aug. 25, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 73 against Ray Borg.
He lost the fight by unanimous decision, but three months later defeated Joby Sanchez by TKO.
Herrera lost his two final fights in the UFC before moving over to Absolute Championship Berkut in 2018.
He made his debut in Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship in 2021 defeating Abdiel Velazquez by TKO.
The family set up a GoFundMe and tributes have been posted on social media for the late MMA fighter.
“Our family is devastated by the tragic loss of our beloved Geane Carlos Herrera known in the professional fighting world as ‘La Pulga’, whose life was cut way too short at only 33 years old. Geane leaves behind a 16-year-old son, his 3-month pregnant girlfriend, mother, father, sisters, a brother and a family that loves him and will deeply miss him,” the family wrote on the GoFundMe page.
“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.”
Borg paid tribute to Herrera in a post on Instagram, according to the BBC.
“He was a good guy, my prayers are with him and his family during this tough time,” Borg wrote.