Brian Gassaway

Did You Know?

• At TKO 32 in 2008, Gassaway's opponent Jose Landi-Jons broke his leg throwing a kick that Gassaway checked; Sherdog ranked it among the most gruesome leg breaks in MMA history.
• He fought Diego Sanchez at UFC 54, which was Sanchez's first pay-per-view appearance after winning The Ultimate Fighter.

Mixed martial arts career

Gassaway made his professional debut on August 23, 1996, at IFC 2: Mayhem in Mississippi, a one-night tournament where he submitted Michael Pacholik and William Knorr with rear-naked chokes before losing to Anthony Macias by kneebar. He appeared ten times between April and July 1996 alone, and traveled to Japan and Brazil in 1997 for bouts in Pancrase and at the International Vale Tudo Championship. From 1998 to early 2000 he went unbeaten in 14 consecutive bouts, including three wins in one night at Cage Combat 3 in Ohio on July 15, 1998—among them a decision over Travis Fulton—and a split decision over Mark Hughes, twin brother of Matt Hughes, in Hughes's professional debut in April 1999.

He competed repeatedly in Japan, returning to Pancrase in 2000 to win two decisions in one night at Pancrase: Trans 5 in Tokyo before losing to Ikuhisa Minowa by toe hold at the promotion's anniversary show in Yokohama. In 2001 he was submitted by Yuki Kondo, and in 2003 he lost a unanimous decision to Tetsuji Kato at Korakuen Hall in his final Shooto appearance in Japan; later that year, at a Shooto event in Indiana, he fought then-unbeaten Gideon Ray to a draw.

He made his WEC debut at WEC 14 in March 2005, where his bout with Ross Ebañez was ruled a no contest after an accidental headbutt. After two regional submission wins, he received his lone UFC booking, meeting Diego Sanchez at UFC 54 in Las Vegas on August 20, 2005; Sanchez stopped Gassaway with strikes from mount in the second round. In 2006 he headlined Extreme Challenge 68 in Wisconsin, winning a unanimous decision over Jamie Toney, and returned to the WEC at WEC 25 in January 2007, where he was submitted by John Alessio in the first round.

Death

Brian Gassaway passed away at 49 on October 16, 2021, though the news broke the next day, leading some outlets to report the 17th. The cause was never disclosed. Tributes came from fighters, coaches, and broadcasters, and a student set up a memorial fund. The Thai Boxing Association-Sanctioning Authority later created the Brian Gassaway Award to recognize his impact on U.S. Muay Thai. He is survived by his wife, son, mother, and brother.