Josh Samman: Love, death, & prizefighting

I don’t know where to start. My heart is heavy as I’m writing this. Wow, Josh Samman would’ve been 33 years old this week. Joshua Kaleb embodied many things in this life. He was a leader, a fighter, a writer, a promoter, but most importantly, a lover with a smile that lit up the darkest alleys in this thing we call life. So, from The Lightkeeper to The Housekeeper, this one’s for you.

I’ll Grow Up Next Summer.

Born in Kissimmee, Florida, on his mother’s 23rd birthday, Josh entered life with an outlook unlike any other, questioning every single detail that crossed his sight. While some might say that it’s a blessing to have such a unique perspective on life at such a young age, it can also lead to early confusion that might cause the individual to find an escape from their surroundings.

Early spring, 1998
“Everything’s going to be okay, Josh,” his mom said. Samman asked, “Mom, what’s wrong?” It turns out, Josh’s mother had breast cancer. Regardless of who you are, such news would break the toughest humans on earth, let alone a ten-year-old boy who’s just trying to figure out life.

Following the heartbreaking news, alongside his parents’ separation, Joshua’s adventurous personality had the urge to explore what some might call “The finer things in life,” in the form of Parties, psychedelics, girls, and many other things.

Joshua Kaleb |noun|: Fierce One.

With everything Samman did in his visit to the world, from living the fast life as a kid to becoming a world-class cerebral fighter. Joshua Kaleb always embodied the definition of his name, being as fierce as a lion which was one of the most significant assets that built him into becoming the leader he was known for.

Combat Night: A Letter For The Youth.

In 2012, alongside his best friend and dearest soul, Mitchell Chamale, Josh started Florida based Mixed Martial Arts promotion, Combat Night. The promotion’s foundation was a solid one, held with the sole purpose of providing countless opportunities to the young fighters in the regional scene for them to start their MMA journey into becoming the future of the sport. When Mitchel was asked, what is Combat Night? His response was, “fighters trying to help out other fighters, that’s Combat Night in a nutshell.”

Josh Samman: The Fighter.

After making noise in the regional scene, Samman secured himself a spot on The Ultimate Fighter season 17, coached by Jon Jones and Chael Sonnen, with a vision of getting a shot at competing alongside the elites under the brightest lights of all, the UFC.

Although Josh earned himself a seat on the show, it wasn’t his first time trying out for the competition. After years of envisioning himself being a contestant at the most grueling gauntlet in combat sports, after three previous failed attempts at getting into the house, Samman finally made it.

Josh showed true potential by finishing his first three outings in the house. However, Samman’s plans of winning the show got derailed by future UFC title challenger Kelvin Gastelum in the show’s semi-finals.

Although Josh didn’t qualify for the finals, he, alongside everyone on the show, received one more chance of getting a UFC contract by fighting against each other on the finale’s card.

The opportunity revived Samman’s fighting career, and things started to click back again. However, there was a missing piece to the puzzle, a beautiful soul to capture the fierce one’s heart…

Josh Samman: The Lover.

“Corona with lime, please,” Samman ordered on a hazy evening of drinking in Tallahassee alongside his roommate Matt. Out of nowhere, Josh gets starstruck with what he described as an “angel” that swept him off the barstool he was sitting on for hours. Hailey was her name.

It does not getter better than that. At last, finding your soulmate, your supporter, lover, and companion that will walk through the darkest alleys by your side. Having a partner isn’t just about going through life together. But it’s about bringing out the best in each other. Embracing the thought of being vulnerable at your best or worst because you know that no matter how distant you’re feeling in this life, in your partner’s eyes, you’re always home.

After meeting Hailey, all the scars from the past and tribulations blew away like the wind. Josh was reborn with his heart being revived by love and tranquillity.

Everything was better than ever. Fighting for the UFC, enjoying the ride while having your soulmate by your side. However, in an instant, everything fell apart…

Sometimes, Good Things Fall Apart.

On a dark, rainy evening, Hailey was making a long drive to see her lover, and while she was on her way, she received a text from Josh with him expressing his excitement to see her in a few hours. However, when Hailey picked up the phone to reply with a text, she drifted on the highway, leading to a devastating accident that had a high cost, her life.

Just like that, in an instant, Josh lost it all. From expecting your soulmate to arrive at your doorstep in no time into being at her funeral, wondering how did things go wrong so fast.

The toll was heavy on Josh. He was left with so many questions that he found no answers to. Something had to give in, and Samman was left with no other option than to find an alternative in the form of drugs to help him cope with the agony caused by the tragedy that he couldn’t fathom. And Samman’s self-destruction began.

The Comeback.

On a sunny morning, a heartbroken, lethargic Josh made his way to the gym carrying his sorrows, lost with not much weight to hold on to in his life. Suddenly, he sees the calendar in the gym listing the upcoming UFC events that are going to take place in the forthcoming months. One date on that calendar sparked something inside of him: December 06th, Hailey’s birthday.

The UFC had an event scheduled to transpire on Hailey’s birthday, which suddenly shifted everything for Josh. He decided to salvage his relationship with sobriety, get in the shape of his life, and win for one sole purpose, honoring his late lover’s memory.

Dateline Las Vegas, December 06, 2014. Josh Samman squared off against one of the most feared middleweights at the time, Eddie “Truck” Gordon.

The fight started, and Josh found himself in a place he was no stranger to, adversity, with him losing the first round. However, with everything he went through to get to that fight, there was no way he was going to lose that night…

For Her And Mom.

Following his spine-tingling comeback for the ages, Josh fell into a void of thinking, “what now?”

After accomplishing his goal of honouring Hailey with a win on her birthday, Josh went back into a state of melancholy, being left with the same questions that were never answered. A lot of thoughts weighed heavy on Samman’s mind. Regret, agony, surrender, helplessness was what he felt. So Josh decided to write a book about Hailey as a letter for closure, with the hopes of being able to forgive himself for that text that in his mind caused everything to fall apart.

Goodbye, Dear Friend.

Josh was beautiful on the outside yet tragically damaged on the inside from what has happened in his life. Unfortunately, the book wasn’t enough for closure.

“Love is the most powerful force in the universe, and for two beings, who love each other, separation is only temporary. By the Laws of Attraction, they will inevitably be drawn back together, like magnets.”
-Helene Minto

On October 5th, 2016, many tears were shed for the loss of Josh Samman. He couldn’t fathom the thought of living in a world where Hailey wasn’t in. Although his loss left us in agony for a long time, Josh’s mom gave comfort to many hearts as she said, “I felt his spirit just wanting to go home and see Hailey, so when he left, I knew that he was finally at peace.”

Love, Death, & Prizefighting.

“To be our greatest self is what I think our calling is. All of us have different paths to greatness, whether it’s through fighting, parenthood, writing, filmmaking, or for somebody else is music, owning a gym, or whatever the situation is. We all have to find that one path and go for it, with no fear just go, go, go.”
-Josh Samman
From the Lightkeeper to the Housekeeper, I love you, Josh. Happy birthday.

In memory of Joshua Kaleb Samman. 14.03.1988 – 05.10.2016

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