Emanuel tragically passed away on Dec. 21 due to an unknown cause. The UFC released a statement to Fox Sports on Dec. 22 mourning the horrible loss of a true talent. “The UFC sends its sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Emanuel Yarbrough.”
His manager also released a touching statement to UFC.com, saying “Emanuel’s passion was to travel. Even though it was not an easy task for him, it never stopped him from following his dreams, and bringing smiles to the faces of all he would meet. He was to be the subject of a new reality show, and would have continued to bring smiles to all those who had the opportunity to be blessed by his infectious, compassionate, loving presence. He will be missed by his millions of fans around the world, friends and family. Emanuel constantly demonstrated the need to help the obese, particularly children. And he traveled the world to bring awareness to obesity.”
Emanuel was a fan favorite in the UFC, with a huge personality and even huger stature. He was the largest man to ever fight in the UFC, and according to the Guiness Book of World Records, he was also the largest and heaviest athlete in the world at 6’8″ and over 600 pounds at his peak. Despite his size, he dabbled in several sports besides the UFC, including football and sumo wrestling. How amazing!
Emanuel was also known for his role of Clarence Seroy in HBO’s Oz. Emanuel was a brilliant example of someone using their fame to raise awareness for an important cause, and we can all look up to him for that. Our prayers go out to his family, friends, and fans during this hard time.
HollywoodLifers – send your best wishes to Emanuel’s family and friends below.