In an unfortunate incident on December 18, professional MMA fighter Jessie Henry passed away while on duty as a firefighter. The 28-year-old attained grave injuries after the tire on a fire truck he was working on exploded. The tire sensor collided with his head and this caused the injury. After being airlifted to Ochsner LSU hospital, he later succumbed to his wounds.
He worked as a Bossier firefighter for four years and had also served in the US military prior to that. Further, he was an extremely promising MMA fighter. The young athlete started his professional fighting career with a Louisiana-based promotion, American Kombat Alliance (AKA) after eight amateur fights.
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.@SFD_FIRE_EMS pays respects to South Bossier Fire Dist. #2 firefighter Jessie Henry, who died Saturday from injuries suffered when a tire on a fire truck exploded while he was working on it. His body is headed to Little Rock for autopsy. pic.twitter.com/2L0QQ1wDPE
— Darran Todd (@DarranToddTV) December 20, 2021
‘Overtime’ lost his first professional bout against Donovon Beard but went on to get back-to-back victories against Carlos Hurtado and Andrew Carrington. His last fight was against Craig Grove on May 28, 2021. Henry had lost the bout through a rear-naked choke. He held a 2-2 record.
Those close to him were heartbroken. His Jujitsu instructor Chad Leonhardt spoke about him and said (h/t ArkLaTex), “His fighting name was ‘Overtime’. He literally would get off from the fire department first thing in the morning, and he would be here. He would work out, we would put him through his drill and everything and come back at noon, and he would come back again and train in the evening. So literally, Overtime fit him better than anything.”
MMA Trainer Blake Franklin too spoke about how Henry loved to help people and was against all crime and violence.
Jessie Henry: His family
The fighter left behind a large family who will cherish his memories. Henry is survived by his 9-year-old daughter, Karmen.
Our sympathies go out to South Bossier Fire District and the family and friends of Firefighter Jessie Henry who was killed in a tragic accident while performing maintenance on one of the department's fire trucks. #LODD #LastAlarm pic.twitter.com/0zLMJLTEuI
— ATF HQ (@ATFHQ) December 21, 2021
In his memory, a visitation will be held from 9 to 11 am on December 29. It will happen at Hirsch Coliseum, 3701 Hudson Ave., Shreveport, Louisiana 71109.
Further, a gofundme initiative has been started. It will help his family members take care of his last recites as well as help his daughter.
The fighter had the potential to make a difference in the world. He will surely be missed.
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