Former UFC and BKFC fighter Gene Herrera has died at the age of 33.
Herrera reportedly died in a motorcycle accident in Tampa, Florida. A GoFundMe account has been set up by Herrera’s family to help cover her funeral expenses.
“Our family is devastated by the tragic loss of our beloved Jean Carlos Herrera, known in the world of professional martial arts as ‘La Pulga’, whose life was cut short at just 33 years old. ” reads a post written by Herrera’s family. GoFundMe. “Gene leaves behind a 16-year-old son, his girlfriend who is three months pregnant, his mother, father, sister, brother and a family that loved him and will miss him very much.
“Gene was full of life, always trying to live life to the fullest, and was a dedicated athlete with big dreams of making a difference and leaving his mark on this world. He is truly a happy and lucky man. He was a great person and left a mark on everyone he touched in his life.”
Herrera most recently competed for BKFC, losing a unanimous decision to Reginald Barnett Jr. on November 11, 2022. Prior to that, “La Pulga” had a record of 10 wins and 3 losses as a mixed martial artist. He won his first eight professional starts before signing with the UFC, going 1-3 during his brief stint with the Las Vegas-based promotion. His last MMA bout took place in April 2018 under the Absolute Champion Berkut banner, where he scored a first round submission victory over Darren Mima.
