Biaggio Ali Walsh the grandson of the legendary Muhammad Ali, a three-time world heavyweight boxing champion, and brother of professional boxer Nico, an undefeated middleweight will look to add to his family legacy in combat sports. He just isn’t doing it in a boxing ring. Biaggio has decided to take his talents to the world of mixed martial arts.

He has made his first big step towards combat sports as he signed an amateur contract with the Professional Fighters League to compete in its tournament finals event in November. The 24-year-old Chicago born, Ali Walsh began his MMA journey in 2020 training in Las Vegas at Xtreme Couture. Ali Walsh doesn’t have a lot of expereince thus far and is just getting started with only 2 fights to his credit and an amateur MMA record of 1-1.

“I want to thank Professional Fighters League for their support and confidence in me. I can’t wait to enter the PFL SmartCage,” said Ali Walsh. “I have a legacy to live up to, a legacy that my grandfather began, that my brother and I continue, I chose to continue that legacy here in the Professional Fighters League. My one and only goal is to one day become a PFL World Champion.”

Although he grew up training in boxing along with his younger brother Nico he soon realized a passion for football. Thus, he began a football career as a highly decorated running back for Bishop Gorman High School in Nevada and went on to play for the University of California’s Berkeley Bears and then later transferred to join the UNLV Running Rebels in 2019, however giving up his NFL dreams and focusing on mma as of 2020.

“Growing up, I was always a fan of martial arts and boxing. The beginning of high school I really started to like MMA just because of the different aspects of fighting. You know, the wrestler vs the boxer, the boxer vs the karate guy, karate guy vs judo guy – I really like the idea of a mixture of tools to use in a fight. So, I just fell in love with that idea so, I chose MMA.”

When you’re related to one of the greatest boxing legends of all time, it’s perhaps inevitable that sporting prowess will be one of your defining characteristics. Biaggio looks to add his name to the legendary ledger of the Ali family tree as he embarks on his mma journey with the PFL. He even has a butterfly (left arm) and bee (right arm) tattoos in tribute to his grandfather’s famous quote “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee”, and hopes to live up to the lofty expectations set forth by his grandfather.

Rumble young man Rumble !