Evan Loyd Tanner (February 11, 1971 - September 8, 2008) was an American professional mixed martial arts fighter. He was a former UFC Middleweight Champion and was also the first American to win the Pancrase Neo-Blood tournament in Tokyo, Japan.Tanner won his first championship when he defeated Heath Herring at USWF 7, and went on to successfully defend that title five times. Tanner then won the UFC Middleweight Championship at UFC 51, stopping David Terrell with strikes in the first round.