Lumumba Sayers, a fighter who previously competed for Strikeforce and BKFC, was found guilty on second-degree murder charges Tuesday in Colorado following a two-week trial after he shot and killed a man in 2024.
The Adams and Broomfield County District Attorney’s office announced the verdict in a press release after the jury convicted him on three charges including second-degree murder, tampering with physical evidence, and attempting to commit tampering with physical evidence. While prosecutors initially
sought first-degree murder charges, which comes with a potential life sentence behind bars, Sayers was ultimately convicted for second-degree murder and now faces up to 48 years in prison as a result.
Original court records obtained by MMA Fighting following Sayers’ arrest stated that the murder was a revenge killing after the veteran fighter gunned down a man he believed was involved in his son’s death.
The victim later identified as Malcolm Watson, 28, is believed to be a friend of a man previously accused of killing Sayers’ son in a shooting that took place in August 2023. A suspect named Tyrell Braxton was later arrested in connection with the killing of Sayers’ son, but charges were eventually dismissed.
The arrest affidavit involving Sayers states that “this murder was probably in retaliation or revenge” but doesn’t detail a further connection between Watson and Braxton.
According to the report, Watson was at a birthday party when a witness claimed that Sayers walked up and shot him “in the head at close range.” Sayers allegedly went back to Watson’s body and attempted to shoot him a second time but his gun “jammed.”
Witnesses claimed Sayers then took some keys from Watson’s pocket and allegedly attempted to plant a gun near his body.
At trial, via the Denver Post, Sayers’ attorneys argued that the veteran fighter greeted Watson at the birthday party but it was another person who actually carried out the murder. When he was arrested, police found an unregistered gun in Sayers’ possession, but it was not the weapon used to kill Watson.
Instead, prosecutors argued Sayers likely killed Watson with an untraceable 3-D printed or kit-built “ghost gun” that was never found. They theorized Sayers used the gun to kill Watson and then disposed of it by handing it to the other man seen in surveillance footage, who approached him just after the murder took place.
The person who approached Sayers spoke to him and then ran away “carrying what appears to be a covered-up object.”
The jury deliberated for just over a day and a half before handing down the verdict with Sayers being found guilty on multiple charges.
Adams County District Court Judge Jeffrey Ruff is set to decide on sentencing when Sayers returns to court July 24.
Sayers most recently fought in March 2024 when he competed at a BKFC event in Denver. In his MMA career, Sayers is best known for his time spent with Strikeforce where he fought a number of notable names including Anthony Smith, Derek Brunson and Scott Smith.
