Former Fighter Convicted of Murder, Faces Up to 48 Years in Prison

Lumumba Sayers, a veteran of organizations like Strikeforce and BKFC, was found guilty of second-degree murder on Tuesday in Colorado. The verdict followed a two-week trial stemming from a 2024 shooting incident.

The Adams and Broomfield Counties District Attorney's Office announced the decision in a press release after jurors convicted Sayers on three counts: second-degree murder, tampering with physical evidence, and attempted tampering with physical evidence. Prosecutors initially sought a first-degree murder conviction, which carries a potential life sentence. Ultimately, Sayers was convicted of second-degree murder and now faces the possibility of up to 48 years in prison. According to court documents obtained by "MMA Fighting" following Sayers' arrest, the killing was an act of retaliation. The veteran fighter is believed to have shot a man he suspected was involved in his son's death.

The victim, later identified as 28-year-old Malcolm Watson, was allegedly a friend of a man previously accused in the August 2023 shooting death of Sayers' son. A suspect named Tyrell Braxton was arrested in connection with the fighter's son's murder, but charges against him were subsequently dropped.

The affidavit for Sayers' arrest stated that "this murder was likely in response or retaliation," but did not specify a further connection between Watson and Braxton. According to the report, Watson was at a birthday party when a witness claimed Sayers approached and shot him "in the head at close range." Sayers then allegedly returned to Watson's body and attempted a second shot, but his gun jammed. Witnesses claimed Sayers took keys from Watson's pocket and tried to plant a gun near his body.

During the trial, according to the Denver Post, Sayers' attorneys argued that the veteran had greeted Watson at the party, but another individual committed the murder. Upon his arrest, police found an unregistered handgun on Sayers, but it was not the weapon used to kill Watson.

Adams County District Court Judge Jeffrey Ruff will determine the sentence when Sayers reappears in court on July 24.

Sayers last competed in March 2024, participating in a BKFC event in Denver. In his MMA career, he is best known for his stint in Strikeforce, where he faced a number of notable names, including Anthony Smith, Derek Brunson, and Scott Smith.