Askew Passes, Apparent Victim of Heat Wave

Former mixed martial arts fighter Julius Askew (Pictures) passed away Friday, apparently a victim of heat exhaustion. He was 27. An oilfield worker from Bakersfield, Calif., Askew was found unconscious around 6 p.m. while on the Cymric oil lease in nearby McKittrick, according to a report from the coroner's office. He was rushed to Kern Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 7:18 p.m. His body temperature was reportedly higher than 108 degrees. The death was considered accidental pending Monday's autopsy.

Askew is survived by his three-year-old son, his mother, grandmother and three sisters.

His last sanctioned MMA bout was at King of the Cage 37 on August 6, 2004.