Mixed Martial Arts Fighting

[ORCA]

WOW.VERY SAD FRESH NEWS AGAIN.Woman dies following kickboxing tournament

http://www.cfnews13.com/article/news/2010/july/128309/Woman-dies-following-kickboxing-tournament

By Nick VinZant, Reporter
Last Updated: Tuesday, July 27, 2010 8:00 PM
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Kickboxer killed in bout
ORLANDO --
A woman knocked unconscious during a kickboxing tournament over the weekend has died.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office is considering the death an accident but friends of Adrienne Simmons said the tournament sponsor didn't do nearly enough to ensure the safety of the fighters.

After five years of training, Simmons was making her way through a kickboxing tournament in Orlando when she was hit by a left hook.

Less than 48 hours later, she was dead.

"I never really wanted her to fight,” said Chike Lindsay, Simmons’ boyfriend. “I just wanted her to feel stronger and better about herself."

Lindsay said while doctors responded immediately, further medical help came too late.

News 13 spoke with Lindsay and several other trainer who said during a tournament, sponsors usually pay for an ambulance or paramedics to be on site. That wasn't the case this weekend.

"By the time they got to the hospital, they did everything they could do to stop the swelling but their had been so much swelling that there wasn't a whole lot they could do,” Lindsay said.

Simmons’ death has hit the fight community hard.

Gym manager Joe Pernia said he is shocked by the news.

He spent Tuesday reminding his fighters and students to take caution and protect themselves.

"Definitely incorporate safety equipment, headgear, cloves, mouthguard, anything you can possibly think of to make sure that they are safe while they are training," Pernia said.

News 13 was able to make contact with the fighter Simmons was facing at the time of the incident.

Lindsay Scheer said her heart goes out to the entire Simmons family and that she is deeply saddened by what happened.