A 31-year-old former mixed martial artist lost his life Tuesday night during what authorities are describing as an attempted home invasion in Lake City, Florida.
Langston Sykes was fatally shot at a residence on SW Leslie Glen after allegedly attempting to break into his ex-wife’s home, according to News4JAX. Law enforcement officials stated that an adult occupant inside the residence, who had an active protection order against Sykes, acted in self-defense.
Ramon Taveras, a UFC bantamweight competitor, shared his condolences on Facebook: “Didn’t really know Lanko Sykes but we shared the mats together a few times. Sad to see this happen man, cause this could have been me last year. I just want to say this, to anybody who’s chasing a dream don’t lose it over something or somebody. IT IS NOT WORTH IT!! The UFC has shown me things I thought I’d never see, brought me to places I never been, introduced me to some of the best people I have ever met!! It is so much more out there to life for you to explore than what you see on the daily basis.”
Sykes competed professionally in mixed martial arts, making his debut at Jorge Masvidal’s iKON FC 4 in August 2022, where he faced Malcolm Wellmaker. His final professional appearance came at Island Fights 84 last August, securing a first-round knockout victory over Anson Swindle. He concluded his career with a professional record of 1-4.
Local authorities are continuing their investigation into the incident.
