MMA
Brett Okamoto, ESPN Staff Writer 10y

Mauricio Zingano found dead

MMA

Mauricio Zingano, husband and coach to UFC female bantamweight contender Cat Zingano, was found dead on Monday near his home in Denver. He was 37.

The Jefferson County coroner's office confirmed to ESPN.com that Zingano committed suicide by hanging himself.

A spokesperson for the Westminster Police Department in Colorado confirmed Wednesday there is an open investigation into Zingano's death but no foul play is suspected at this time.

Zingano owned two training facilities in Colorado, the first of which he established in 2004. A third-degree Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, Zingano studied under the world-renowned Gracie family. He fought professionally three times from 1999 to 2003, compiling a 2-0-1 record.

Cat Zingano (8-0) began her professional career in 2008. ESPN.com currently ranks her as the No. 4 female fighter in the world. She was supposed to fight Ronda Rousey for the UFC bantamweight title in 2013, but a knee injury has kept Zingano sidelined since a third-round TKO win over Miesha Tate in April.

In a message posted to her Facebook account on Tuesday, Cat Zingano wrote, "I will always love you Mauricio."

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