‘The Ultimate Fighter’ Season 1 Competitor Lodune Sincaid Dead at 45

Lodune Sincaid, former Ultimate Fighting Championship and World Extreme Cagefighting competitor, and member of the inaugural season of "The Ultimate Fighter," has died at age 45.

Sherdog.com was informed on Thursday of Sincaid's passing, and it was confirmed by his website, which stated, "Lodune Sincaid was found dead April 7, 2019. Lodune was a true friend and will be missed by those close to him as well as those who crossed his path during his time on this earth. He held no grudges and left this life in peace." His cause of death has not yet been determined.

Sincaid first appeared on the big stage at "The Ultimate Fighter" Season 1, where he battled Bobby Southworth in the third episode but ultimately lost by second-round knockout. A welcome presence of levity on the debut season mired with drama and confrontation, Sincaid endeared himself to fans and UFC President Dana White enough to earn a spot on the TUF Season 1 Finale. There, he suffered the first professional loss of his career when future middleweight title challenger Nate Quarry finished him in the first round with strikes.

After a loss and a win on the regional circuit, "The Vanilla Gorilla" made his debut in the WEC, where he beat James Irvin on the scorecards. The win was impressive enough to earn him a title shot, and he captured the vacant WEC light heavyweight belt at WEC 20 in 2006, tapping out Dan Molina by rear-naked choke. Although he lost that title to Doug Marshall three months later, he was one of only seven men to ever hold that strap.

Sincaid moved on from the WEC after the loss, competing several times in Palace Fighting Championship, the organization that transformed into Tachi Palace Fights. He made his final appearance in active competition against Giva Santana in March 2010, losing by knockout and saying goodbye to the sport. He retired with a record of 15-9, with 14 finishes, and only went the distance three times.

Sincaid was open about his battles with mental health issues including bipolar disorder and PTSD after his service in the U.S. Navy surrounding the Persian Gulf War. Despite his struggles, his biography wrote, "He passes on this same courage to his students and his goal is to bring honor to his teachers, and to inspire the rest of the world to never give up on their dreams or themselves."