The first official cutman for the UFC, Leon Tabbs, has passed away at the age of 86. Tabbs, born on 10/29/1931, had a long career in the boxing world, decades before he could be seen applying grease, checking gloves, and stemming blood in the Octagon.
Tabbs got his start learning to box at age 13 to keep a local bully at bay. He won the Silver Gloves in Philly, and a New Jersey amateur title at featherweight, in 1947.
His pro career aspirations were shelved when Tabbs was drafted for the Korean War. Serving as a Navy medic for eight years, Tabbs kept boxing and started training servicemen. He then settled in Philly, where he served as a police officer and continued training fighters. Tabbs was noticed at Joe Frazier’s gym, and got a part in Rocky I.
He worked with too many fighters to name, including Bernard Hopkins, before settling into a years-long worldwide tour with the UFC.
A cancer survivor, Tabbs finally retired in 2012 at age 80. Fellow UFC cutman Rob Monroe offers some personal words at the time of his retirement
“Leon Tabbs is the Godfather of MMA cutmen. The original cutman from UFC 1,” wrote Monroe. “He absolutely deserves to be in the UFC Hall of Fame. He is a legend and one of the most good-natured, upbeat guys I’ve ever met in my life. Working alongside him always gave me a feeling that I had made it to the big time – I’m next to Leon Tabbs!”
Now Tabbs is next to angels. If angels bleed, it won’t be for long.
