Kentucky MMA pioneer Ricky Borders dies at age 34
Ricky Borders
The news came sudden this morning as we all learned of the tragic passing of Ricky Borders, a long-standing veteran in the Kentucky Mixed Martial Arts community.
Borders was a real veteran as well, serving his country with pride before coming back and making a run as a fighter. He was fighting before fighting was cool. He started his amateur career in 2004, made a run in Trotter’s Gladiator Fighting Challenge and went pro with them in 2009.
After his career as a fighter, he tried his hand as an official. When I first started covering MMA, I knew Ricky as a referee. It’s funny, Ricky seemed to always be late to fighter’s meeting with the KBWC. Following his flirtation with that I mostly sawing him doing what he loved, cornering fights. If David Crowe was fighting, you could bet Ricky was in his corner. They have that old school Powell County friendship.
The circumstances around Ricky’s death are unclear at this time, but we will follow up with arrangements when they become available.
You were a good man Ricky Borders, thanks for everything.
