Booto Guylain Dead: MMA Fighter Dies From Head Injury Suffered In EFC Africa Fight In Johannesburg [PHOTO]

A mixed martial artist died Wednesday from injuries sustained during a fight last Thursday in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Booto Guylain, a 29-year-old middleweight fighter for Extreme Fighting Championship Africa, was pronounced dead after suffering a severe head injury during a knockout loss to Keron Davies, MMAFighting.com reports. EFC Africa confirmed the tragic news in a statement posted to its website.

“We are devastated,” EFC Africa President Cairo Howarth said. “This is a huge loss to the sport and to all who know him. Our thoughts are with his family in this trying time.”

Guylain sustained the head injury during the third round of his fight against Davies, Bleacher Report notes. One of Davies’ elbows reportedly connected with Guylain’s head, knocking him unconscious and forcing medical officials to take him to a local hospital.

“Immediately after the bout he was stabilized by the on-site medical team and transported to hospital, where he was treated for swelling and bleeding on the brain,” EFC Africa’s statement said.

Guylain’s wife and young son will reportedly receive financial assistance from ONEPLAN, EFC Africa’s disability partner. “We are very grateful that ONEPLAN is here in this difficult time, and we thank them for their support,” Howarth added in his statement.

A judo specialist, Guylain had an 0-2 record as a professional MMA fighter, according to EFC Africa’s official website.

The EFC Africa fighter’s death occurred just months after another Brazilian mixed martial artist, Leandro Souza, died from complications caused by his attempts to “cut weight” before a fight against Gabriel Brasil, Bleacher Report notes. Souza competed for Shooto in Brazil.

Guylain is the third MMA fighter to die from injuries sustained in a sanctioned fight, the website adds.