***3:15 p.m. Update June 29***
According to Aiken County Coroner Tim Carlton, autopsy results confirmed that Michael Kirkham died from a subarachnoid hemorrhage of the brain due to the injuries/blows to the head he received during the MMA match. Toxicology is pending. Manner of death is to be ruled as accidental. The Aiken County Coroner's Office is still awaiting the video of the fight from the SC Athletic Commission.
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Thirty year old Michael Kirkham, of Gaston, SC died after the Aiken County Coroner says he was hit in the head several times at a professional fighting competition at the Aiken Convocation Center, over the weekend.
Kirkham was involved in Mixed Marital Arts. It's a growing sport that combines kickboxing, judo, jujitsu and wrestling. Kirkham was fighting Carlos Iriaburo. It was also his first professional fight. Carlos says he didn't realize anything was wrong with Kirkham until after round one was over and it became apparent that Kirkham was unconscious.
Carlos Iriaburo, fighter: “I was worried about him. I mean, when I go in there, it’s a sport, I go to win, but I’m not trying to cause permanent damage.”
Mark Greubel teaches Mixed Marital Arts and trains Carlos. Greubel says despite the nature of MMA, it’s still a safe contact sport.
Mark Greubel, Onwer Greubel’s Mixed Martial Arts: “You have the ability to tap put which is my tapping on yourself or your opponent three or four times the referee will stop it.”
Greubel says those who enroll at his school are there for self defense and a good workout.
Mark Greubel: “The vast majority of our clientele do not even participate in spearing very few maybe one perfect actually fight.”
Greubel says with the popularity of Ultimate Fighting Championship, MMA is becoming a popular sport. Before stepping into the ring every player typically signs a liability form because the sport can be just as dangerous as other sports.
As for Carlos he says the fight was supposed to be the beginning of a fighting career for both of them but now one great fighter is gone.
Carlos Iriaburo: “I can not fully explain how truly sorry I am a man with a big heart and never meant for this to happen.”
The coroner says the cause of death is believed to due to a brain hemorrhage. An autopsy is scheduled for today in Newberry South Carolina. Greubel says he offers his condolences to the family and would like to help out including sending donations to them.
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