Coroner's probe into tragic death of Preston's MMA fighter Connor Hitchens to begin in Blackpool next week
A coroner will next week begin a probe into the death of a talented Lancashire Cage Warriors MMA fighter and father who died suddenly aged 27.
Connor Hitchens from Preston died in Blackpool on May 16.
The popular MMA fighter, one-time Cage Warriors Fighting Championship featherweight, died unexpectedly and an inquest will be held to investigate his cause of death.
Blackpool Coroner Louise Rae will hold a pre inquest review into Mr Hitchen’s death on Thursday, January 9 at 11.30am, at the town’s coroner’s court.
Hitchens, who was born and bred in Preston, went 6-2 over the course of a professional MMA career that began in 2018.
He made his lone Cage Warriors appearance at CW 136 in April 2022, falling to Manny Akpan via second-round knockout.
Hitchens did not compete again after that defeat.
Figures in the sport paid tribute to him after his death.
Kerrith Brown, International Mixed Martial Arts Federation president, said: '' “We are forever grateful to Connor for his time on the IMMAF platform and proudly representing the UK national team as a distinguished athlete at the European and World Championships in 2015 and 2016.”