Katy Collins American mixed martial artist Date of Birth: 01.01.1987 Country: USA

1. Katie Collins: A Life in the Ring
2. From Childhood Brawls to MMA
3. The Rise of "Red Dragon"
4. Passing and Legacy

Katie Collins: A Life in the Ring

Katie Collins, a 32-year-old American mixed martial artist nicknamed "Red Dragon," passed away from complications of a brain aneurysm, leaving behind two young sons.

From Childhood Brawls to MMA

In an interview three years ago, Katie Collins revealed that she had been fighting since childhood, sparring with her younger brother and an uncle who she treated like an older sibling. She admitted that she "probably would have been in jail a long time ago for fighting" had she not become a professional combatant. "I got into local fights that my little brother fought in," Collins recalled. "So I decided to just jump in headfirst and asked a promoter for a fight."

The Rise of "Red Dragon"

Collins's fighting background led her to train at Branson Fight Club in Branson, Missouri. According to Heavy.com, she was in a relationship with a boyfriend named Keith. In her three-year professional career, Collins amassed a record of seven wins and five losses. She retired from mixed martial arts in 2018 after a loss to Jaimelene Nievera.

A native of Marked Tree, Arkansas, Collins fought in several notable MMA organizations, including Bellator and Invicta. Explaining the origin of her nickname, Collins said, "That was just a family thing. My mom and my brother called me 'Red Dragon' because I would just turn beet-red in the face if I got mad or heated! So when I started fighting and needed a name, I figured I would keep my nickname... And it stuck."

Passing and Legacy

Katie Collins's death was confirmed by her coach, J.T. Tilley, in a Facebook post: "The fight is over. You never stopped fighting and we were never disappointed in you. The good Lord just had a different plan." "I was always so proud of you, Katie," Tilley continued. "We did it... I wouldn't trade the time we had for anything. I'm going to miss you more than the world will ever know."

Details of Collins's health problems were shared by her sister, Kimberly, in social media posts. "Katie suffered an enlarged blood vessel in her brain yesterday morning which caused a stroke and seizures!" she wrote. "Later that morning she went in for a procedure to fix it and it didn't work and ruptured an aneurysm. Another procedure was attempted and was successful. Now my sister is fighting the swelling in her brain and fluid build up."

Kimberly also noted that doctors were draining excess fluid and administering sedatives to give Katie's brain time to rest. In a later update, Kimberly reported a further setback but remained optimistic: "Last night was a rough night for Katie, her brain pressure got extremely high. This morning she was taken down for more tests and EEG's [electroencephalograms], so we will be getting results soon..." "My baby sister, I will continue to pray for you until our Lord calls you home. I can't put into words how much I love you."

Katie Collins passed away on September 25, 2019. Numerous friends and acquaintances expressed their grief on Facebook. Among them was Gary Farish, who wrote, "We shared tears and sweat and blood together. I was your friend from the beginning and I will be until the very end." "You've gone on to join the fight team in heaven. I'll always cherish the great times we had at the gym and out of the gym. I will miss you," Farish continued. "Rest in peace, Red Dragon. I'll see you again."