UPDATE at 8:24 PM ET: Hill's wife has also denied his death to TMZ:

We just spoke with Corey's wife, Lauran Hill, who tells us Corey is still ALIVE ... despite a statement from the UFC which said Hill had passed earlier today.

Lauran says Corey is "resting and still alive" and they're praying he makes a full recovery.

"My husband is fighting for his life. We want him in everyone's prayers."

Lauran wouldn't comment on statements made earlier by Hill's close friends and other family members.

UPDATE at 6:59 PM ET: Friends and family of Corey Hill are denying the UFC's report of Corey Hill's death.

@MMAFighting @MMASupremacy the Corey Hill story is incorrect. Friends and family are still with him. pic.twitter.com/WznYSDKBHf — Misael Hidalgo Jr. (@MisaelHidalgoJr) May 14, 2015

Former UFC lightweight and TUF 5 alum, Corey Hill has passed away earlier today due to complications stemming from fungal pneumonia, as confirmed by a prepared statement from the UFC. He leaves behind a wife and three children. Corey was 36 years old.

The UFC family mourns the tragic loss of Corey Hill, who passed away on May 14 due to complications from pneumonia at the age of 36. Fans will remember Corey for his time as a lightweight competitor who fought multiple times for the organization in 2008 and was a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter season 5. UFC sends its condolences to the family and friends of Corey Hill.

According to a pair of tweets from MMA personality and ring card girl, Jennifer Swift, Hill has been battling fungal pneumonia for several weeks and had a lung removed. Within a two week period from then, the other lung collapsed and he was placed on life support, with no brain activity.

#CoreyHill Had been battling fungal pneumonia. One lung removed. A week or 2 later lung collapsed. — JENNIFER SWIFT (@Jennifer_SwifT) May 14, 2015

#CoreyHill it was said he had no brain activity. Was on life support untill this morning. #RIP — JENNIFER SWIFT (@Jennifer_SwifT) May 14, 2015

It should be noted that the attending hospital nurses are denying that Hill has died according to a tweet from MMA Fighting's Shaheen Al-Shatti:

Corey Hill's family is declining to comment at this moment, but nurses told me that news of his passing is "false." I hope that's true. — Shaheen Al-Shatti (@shaunalshatti) May 14, 2015

The "Real Deal" had an entertaining start to his career via The Ultimate Fighter, but had lost his way professionally since his comeback in 2010, following a devastating leg break injury in late 2008 at UFC Fight for the Troops. He last fought in February of this year.

Our thoughts are with Corey's family, friends and fans during this difficult time.