Mauricio Zingano, a former mixed martial arts fighter, MMA trainer, and the husband of UFC fighter Cat Zingano, was found dead at his Colorado home on Monday night.

Zingano reportedly committed suicide, via  Globo (translated from Portuguese):

“Yes, he hanged himself in Denver on Monday. It’s something unexplainable, do not know what may have motivated him to do so. We were together and he was fine, had plans and a lifetime ahead. It’s a tragedy. I’m going to Denver today to assist the Cat, who is devastated, does not know what to do.”

MMAWeekly.com Citedtthat the couple was sruggling with the break-up of their marriage.  Zingano and his academy have been important members of Colorado mixed martial arts and BJJ scene for the past years. Cat Zingano is currently the No. 1 UFC women’s bantamweight contender.

One of Zingano’s good friends, MMA promoter Seth Daniels from Colorado, issued the following statement on his Facebook page:

“For those who do not know yet, last night the world lost one of my favorite people Mauricio Zingano. Mauricio and I have been friends for nearly a decade, I found out last night and contacted some of his closest friends to break the tragic news. To hear his friends collapse over the news was nearly has heart breaking as hearing the tragedy itself. Mauricio made a huge impact on myself, many that I know and was huge in the growth of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Colorado. My family and I are devastated by this news.

To Mauricio,
the last time we spoke you asked me for a favor…..I promise you I will make sure it happens. Your family, your friends, the world will miss you terribly.

descanse em paz”

Mauricio, 37 years old at the time of his death, actively competed in mixed martial arts before shifting his focus to his academy in Colorado. He had a professional record of 2-0-1.

He was a third degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and is one of the few to train with Master Helio Gracie, as well as with Rickson, Rorion, Rolker, Relson, and Royce Gracie.