Ryan Bennett was the co-founder of MMAWeekly.com. On May 31, 2006, our good friend and mentor died in a tragic car accident that involved not only him, but also his wife and four young children.
To be sure, Tonya and the kids have struggled both physically and mentally throughout this past year, but with the strength and support of a strong family and a true allegiance of friends, they persevere for they were the heart of Ryan’s life. Not a day would pass that he wasn’t filled with stories about his family with a huge smile on his face.
The family is still struggling to cope financially as Tonya has had to endure several surgeries with another planned for later this year. The Ryan Bennett Memorial Fund was set up to help ease this burden and is still a wonderful way to honor Ryan.
Although it has been one year since Ryan’s passing, it is not a day for mourning. Today, May 31, 2007, is a day not to mark Ryan’s death, but a day to celebrate has life. For celebrating life is something that Ryan did each and every day that he was alive.
This one year of time has given us the opportunity to truly reflect on the man that Ryan was and the man that he is, living on through all of us who knew him. He was a husband, a father, a son, a brother, an uncle, a friend, a mentor, a jokester, a leader, an inspiration… Ryan was all these things and so much more. If the true measure of a man is how he is remembered when he is gone then Ryan Bennett was truly one of the greatest.
In tribute to the life of our friend, MMAWeekly Radio tonight is broadcasting a special 2-hour radio tribute to Ryan Bennett. Joining co-hosts Damon Martin and Jeff Cain for the entire broadcast is Ryan’s original radio co-host Frank Trigg. There will be a few surprises, a few trips down memory lane with clips from “The Hitman” on the original MMAWeekly Radio, several fighters and friends will be live on the line to talk about Ryan, and more as we celebrate his life.
Join us as well at knockoutradio.com at 11pm EST and we will remember Ryan Bennett along with many UFC and MMA fighters. We will also break the news on the upcoming deal with soyo.com, Andrei Arlovski and the Ryan Bennett Memorial Fund.
So far lined up for tonights show to pay tribute to Ryan:
Chuck Liddell, John Hackelman, Tim Sylvia, Yves Edwards, Pete Spratt, Stephen Quadros, Jens Pulver, Scott Adams of the WEC, Wes Sims, and more I'm sure!