The Ohio MMA community today is mourning the loss of professional fighter Paul Compton.
Compton, 29, passed away yesterday after complications from a car wreck earlier this week.
Paul was a “fighter’s fighter,” and was the type of guy who other fighters would venture out from the dressing room before or after their fights to make sure that they got to see whatever he was going to do, because it was always entertaining.
A member of the GriffonRawl MMA Academy alongside the likes of Jason Dent, Donny Walker, and George Comer, Compton hadn’t fought since 2012 but was reportedly on the verge of making a comeback in the very near future.
Along with a 5-5 professional record dating back to 2002 when he was just 16 years old, Compton was 9-2 as an amateur and won the NAAFS Amateur Lightweight Title in 2007.
Some of Ohio MMA’s most respected members have posted about Paul on Facebook:
RFO promoter Matt Trukovich:
R.I.P. Paul Compton one of my all time favorite fighters. What a zest for life this kid had.
NAAFS commentator and GriffonRawl teammate John Strmac [the picture he refers to is above]:
If I had to eulogize Paul Compton I wouldnt say a word. I’d just show people this picture. It says more than anything I could say. RIP.
Bellator middleweight and Northeast Ohio native Brian Rogers:
Condolences, thoughts and prayers to Paul Compton’s fridens, family and GriffinRawl Mma teammates #rip
“Tomorrow isn’t promised…” it’s almost a daily reminder and it sucks.
Ring announcer Jake Digman:
RIP Paul Compton. I am t a loss for words right now. Too many of my friends and family are dying.
Coveted Fighting Championship promoter and GriffonRawl teammate Dave Sweeney:
R.I.P. Paul Compton. Had the honor of being teammates in High school and training partners when I first started MMA. So many great stories. Keep his family in your prayers. He will be truly missed.
NAAFS matchmaker Nichole Castillo:
RIP Paul Compton. Win or lose he was always one of the most fun Naafs fighters to watch and always had people messaging me requesting I put him one fight card. Paul was the first fighter to welcome me to the Naafs when I took the job back in 2008. He was also the only fighter in the history of me doing this job to have a whole conversation on baking cakes with me at an event and knew more then I did about it. he will always be a part of Naafs history and family. My deepest condolences to his family and all who knew him.
A gofundme account has been set up in honor of Paul in in hopes to can relieve some of the stress on the family for funeral cost and arrangements and to hopefully set up some sort of education fund for Demitrious, his son.
Compton was always full of life and will be missed dearly by the Ohio MMA community.