UFC 18 alum Darrell Gholar dead at 63

UFC alumnus Darrell Gholar has died.

Gholar died Monday after a battle with health complications, his father said Wednesday on a Facebook live stream. He was 63 years old. Gholar had experienced issues related to a stroke and right-sided paralysis, among other health problems, according to a 2014 Sherdog article.

Advertisement

Gholar’s only appearance in mainstream MMA came at UFC 18 on January 8, 1999 in Kenner, Louisiana. In a 15-minute bout at 199 pounds, he faced future title challenger Evan Tanner and was submitted in less than eight minutes.

Gholar competed 11 times as a professional MMA fighter, compiling a 5-6 record from 1998 to 2001.

But Gholar’s most notable athletic achievements occurred on the wrestling mats. A captain at the University of Minnesota, Gholar was a three-time U.S. champion in Greco-Roman wrestling, an alternate on the 1998 Olympic team and captain of the 1986 U.S. world team. He also won the Vale Tudo World Championship.

Gholar was also featured in the hit series “American Gladiator” in 2001 and received the Medal of Courage from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: UFC 18 alum Darrell Gholar dead at 63