The Professional Fighters League is grieving the loss of one of its own after Jeff Brady, a longtime staff member and beloved figure in MMA operations, died on Sunday in Arizona while saving the lives of two children from drowning.
Brady, who previously worked as an operations manager for Bellator before transitioning to PFL, played a key role behind the scenes managing merchandise, apparel, and consumer products.
Sadly, during the 4th of July weekend, Brady lost his life.
Professional Fighters League honors the memory, and loss, of longtime teammate, Jeff Brady.
Jeff heroically gave his life while saving two drowning children in a river near his home in Arizona.
Jeff was a long time partner, teammate, and friend of PFL.
PFL’s thoughts and… pic.twitter.com/KAFl8aPrtk
— PFL (@PFLMMA) July 6, 2025
The tragic news was first shared by Jeff’s twin brother, Greg Brady, in a moving Instagram post that quickly drew support from across the MMA community.
“Today, I lost my twin brother, my best friend, my other half, and now my hero,” Greg wrote. “In an act of incredible bravery, he gave his life saving two young boys from drowning at the place both of us call our Lil’ Slice of Paradise, the lower river. That’s who he was… selfless, fearless, and always putting others before himself. He didn’t think twice. He saw someone in need, and he acted, just like he always did.”
“There are no words to describe the pain of losing someone who has been a part of me since the beginning. We shared everything… laughter, struggles, dreams, and memories I’ll hold onto forever. My heart is broken, but I am also incredibly proud of the man he was and the hero he’ll always be remembered as. If you knew him, honor him by living with the same courage and kindness he showed every day. Heaven gained a Viking Angel,” Greg added.
According to a local news affiliate, FOX 10, the sheriff’s office reported:
A group of people were at the Horseshoe Island sandbar when two juveniles were pulled off the shallows by the current. A male subject swam out to the juveniles and kept them above water until a vessel approached and was able to remove the juveniles from the waterway. It was reported the male was struggling to stay afloat, and was observed going underwater and did not resurface.
Fighters from across the MMA world poured into the comments to show their respect, including former UFC champion Tyron Woodley.
“Wow,” Woodley wrote. “One time for Jeff! An amazing human. Condolences to your family. Long live your legacy.”
Cris Cyborg, Dakota Ditcheva, and Patricio and Patricky Pitbull also offered their condolences, echoing the sentiment of a man remembered not just for his work—but for his selflessness and sacrifice.
