Booto Guylian, a middleweight professional MMA fighter, died after suffering a severe head injury in a fight last week. He was 29.

Booto Guylian Dies After MMA Fight

Guylian had been facing off against Keron Davies at the Extreme Fighting Championship Africa event in Johannesburg. In the third round, Davies defeated Guylian by TKO. Leading up to the TKO, Guylian had weathered a number of elbows to the head, reported Bleacher Report. Following the bout, he was rushed out of the octagon for emergency treatment.

"Immediately after the bout he was stabilized by the on-site medical team and transported to hospital where he was treated for swelling and bleeding on the brain," a statement from EFC Africa read.

"We are devastated," added EFC Africa president Cairo Howarth in the statement. "This is a huge loss to the sport and to all who know him. Our thoughts are with his family in this trying time."

Guylian’s MMA record was 0-2 – the losses coming as a result of a TKO. The Cape Town, South Africa, native had fought both fights under the EFC banner.

The last pro MMA fighter to die was Brazil’s Leandro Souza. He died prior to hitting the octagon from organ stress caused by rapid weight-loss. In addition to Guylian, two other pro fighters have died as a direct result of an MMA fight – both Michael Kirkman and Sam Vasquez suffered fatal cerebral hemorrhages during bouts.

– Chelsea Regan

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