Record-holding ex-MMA fighter found dead in jail cell while awaiting child pornography trial in apparent suicide

Ex-MMA star Travis Fulton, the man with the most fights to his name in the sport's history, was found dead in his jail cell at the weekend while facing charges related to child pornography and sexual exploitation of a child,

According to a press release by the Linn County Sheriff's Office, the 44-year-old committed an apparent suicide in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

He was discovered after a cell sweep by prison staff, with attempts to resuscitate him, which included CPR, unsuccessful. 

After being taken to a hospital in the locale, Fulton was pronounced dead at around 5 am local time, with the sheriff’s office saying the death is still under investigation and that the state's medical examiner is set to conduct an autopsy.

Facing charges of child pornography and sexual exploitation of a child filed last Friday, the day before he was found dead, Fulton had reportedly agreed to plead guilty to at least two of the four charges that had been leveled against him.

According to The Gazette, they were one for exploitation and another for possession of child pornography.

As a result, a federal judge canceled his trial date and confirmed a July 23 plea hearing date.

As reported by The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, Fulton allegedly attempted to recruit a minor into engaging in taking sexually explicit photographs late last year.

Furthermore, he was also accused of possessing a flash drive which contained pornography featuring a minor under the age of 12.

At the time of his death, Fulton was additionally awaiting trial in relation to domestic assault charges stemming from a September 2019 incident where he was accused of threatening and hitting a woman, who suffered multiple injuries and needed medical treatment. 

On January 28 this year though, Fulton and the woman in question were detained once spotted together at the Isle Casino Hotel, as the meeting violated a restraining order.

In the MMA world, Fulton was best known for competing in 323 professional fights and accumulating an unparalleled 257-55-10 record. 

His last fight came in April 2019, when he defeated Shannon Ritch on the Road to M-1 USA 2 card.

Fighting just twice in the sport's most elite championship – the UFC – in 1999, Fulton also featured in the first ever WEC event.