‘He is very special to me.’
Biaggio Ali Walsh competes later Friday in an amateur lightweight bout for the PFL.
It stands out as one of the most intriguing fights on the card. While he is not a household name, Walsh is the grandson of the legendary Muhammad Ali.
“It’s a great opportunity,” says the 24-year-old Walsh. “This is a chance to fight in Vegas, where I grew up. My friends and family are coming. I hope people tune in. It is going to be a fun fight.”
Walsh now has the chance to lay the foundation for his own success in the cage. He trains in Las Vegas at Xtreme Couture, has won two of his three fights as an amateur and seeks to make that three of four in this fight against Isaiah Figueroa.
His last fight took place four months ago, and he is ready to display new elements to his attack, all while proudly carrying his grandfather’s name.
“There’s a story my mom tells, and it’s one I’ve never shared before,” says Walsh. “When I was two years old, my grandfather was holding me, and he looked at my mom and said, ‘He’s going to be special.’
“He is very special to me. Boxing was a platform for him to become world famous, and then he used that notoriety and credibility to help a lot of people. My grandfather was the true ‘People’s Champ.’ He wasn’t just a fighter; he was a humanitarian. I’m trying to continue what my grandfather created. I want to take advantage of this opportunity and fight to change people’s lives. That’s more important than anything else.”
THIS IS OVER! Biaggio Ali Walsh gets it done in the 1st round!
— PFL (@PFLMMA) November 25, 2022
[#PFLWorldChampionship | BUY NOW https://t.co/9tors6rrKk | TONIGHT | 8pm ET | ESPN+ PPV] pic.twitter.com/KVWqzP3DVV
Walsh’s brother, Nico Walsh, is a boxer. He has won his first eight bouts, most recently this past February. While boxing appealed to Walsh, he found himself more connected with MMA.
“The will to fight, the will to be great, that’s a gene that was passed down to my brother and I,” says Walsh. “For me, I fell in love with MMA as soon as I saw multiple martial arts could be involved in a fight.”
The event airs on ESPN+ at 6:30 p.m. ET, then shifts to ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET. It is a high-profile opportunity for Walsh, and he plans to deliver.
“I’m here to show the work I’ve put in,” says Walsh. “I’ve never been this excited for a fight.”
UFC 287 is a star-studded card.
The focus will be Israel Adesanya challenging Alex Pereira for the middleweight championship, but the Gilbert Burns–Jorge Masvidal bout should be interesting, as will the opener pitting teenage sensation Raul Rosas Jr. against Christian Rodriguez.
Top to bottom, it is a solid lineup. The middle of the card features Rob Font against Adrian Yanez, a bantamweight bout Font desperately needs to win to remain in contention, and Kevin Holland against Santiago Ponzinibbio in a welterweight fight. Kelvin Gastelum gets the nod for the final fight on the prelims, taking on Chris Curtis in a middleweight bout that should be explosive.
In terms of depth, there hasn’t been a better UFC card this year. It should all build nicely to the main event, where Adesanya attempts to finally defeat Pereira. Including their two kickboxing bouts, Pereira has won all three fights against Adesanya. For a man who once dominated opponents with relative ease, Adesanya now finds himself in an entirely different position against an opponent he cannot beat. If he loses, and Pereira then moves to light heavyweight, Adesanya may never get another shot at him.
This has more than the title at stake. A piece of Adesanya’s legacy is on the line at 287 in a bout he needs to win.
UFC 287 middleweight championship bout: Alex Pereira (c) vs. Israel Adesanya
Pick: Israel Adesanya
UFC 287 welterweight bout: Jorge Masvidal vs. Gilbert Burns
Pick: Gilbert Burns
UFC 287 bantamweight bout: Rob Font vs. Adrian Yanez
Pick: Rob Font
UFC 287 welterweight bout: Kevin Holland vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio
Pick: Kevin Holland
UFC 287 bantamweight bout: Raul Rosas Jr. vs. Christian Rodriguez
Pick: Raul Rosas Jr.
Last week: 4–1
2023 record: 34–20
Justin Barrasso can be reached at JBarrasso@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinBarrasso.
