UFC lightweight Sam Stout, the brother-in-law of the late Shawn Tompkins and a pupil of the renowned striking coach, has told the London Free Press (Ontairio, Canada) that an autopsy has revealed that Tompkins died of a heart attack.
"I don't know what to say," Stout told the Free Press. "It's not supposed to be happen to a healthy 37-year-old person. Who would think he had to get checked out for that?"
Tompkins was found dead Sunday morning when he failed to wake up in his Las Vegas home. Funeral arrangements are pending. Tompkins' wife, Emilie was in Canada when he passed.
Tompkins was the long-time coach of Stout as well as fellow Canadians UFC featherweight contender Mark Hominick, and former IFL star Chris Horodecki. He is perhaps best known as the former striking coach for UFC legends Randy Couture, Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva.
He will be remembered for bringing an increased level of technical polish to MMA striking.