Biaggio Ali Walsh, grandson of the legendary “Greatest of All Time” Muhammad Ali, is carving out his own distinct path in the world of mixed martial arts. Unlike his famous grandfather`s bombastic and outspoken style, Biaggio is developing his MMA career progressively, focusing on steady growth. He is set to compete in the PFL again this Friday.
“I started in this sport simply wanting to see how far I could go with it,” Ali Walsh told Sky Sports. He added, “So many different martial arts play a part in a fight, and I just loved the concept that a fight is a fight – you use whatever martial art works best for you.”
His MMA journey didn`t begin smoothly, marked by a humbling loss in his first fight under the Fusion Fight League banner in Montana. He faced a formidable opponent. “I dropped him about twice, and this guy just got back up,” he remembered, joking, “I heard the Terminator theme in my head… he just wouldn`t go down.”
The grueling fight saw Ali Walsh exhaust himself, leading to a takedown and chokehold defeat. Reflecting on the experience, he quipped about the crucial lesson learned: “Maybe you should breathe when you fight.”
Despite the loss, he wasn`t discouraged. “If anything, that made me want to fight even more,” he stated, viewing the initial bout as a valuable learning experience. “It was a great experience and I took a lot out of it, and that was my first fight.”
Muhammad Ali passed away in 2016, prior to Biaggio beginning his own fighting career. “I wish I could go back and ask him so many more questions now,” Ali Walsh commented, fondly remembering his grandfather as both a great man and a great family figure.
While Ali didn`t directly advise Biaggio on fighting, he once offered advice to Biaggio`s brother, emphasizing healthy eating and training (roadwork). When asked what makes a fighter, his grandfather told him: “Moving and dancing. That makes a fighter.”
Biaggio understands he`s not aiming to simply mirror his legendary grandfather`s boxing style in the cage. “Even stylistically, my grandfather and I are completely different,” he explained. “He liked to move and dance around the ring; it was like poetry in motion almost. The way I fight, I come forward, and I`m looking to just bang, so even stylistically, my grandfather and I are completely different.”
With the small four-ounce gloves used in MMA, he notes, “It doesn`t take much to knock somebody out.” He sees his ability to land impactful strikes as a key strength: “That`s one of my superpowers, I think, just being able to touch you, and if it`s on the right spot, you might go to sleep.”
Ultimately, he is focused on his own path. “I`m here to just show how I like to fight and hopefully everything works out,” he concluded.
Marcus Bellamy