Biaggio Ali Walsh follows in grandfather's footsteps with Las Vegas knockout win

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Published: 09 Apr. 2023, 08:08 Updated: 03 Jan. 2024, 16:14

Biaggio Ali Walsh follows in grandfather's footsteps with Las Vegas knockout win

Biaggio Ali Walsh is declared the winner of an exhibition fight against Isaiah Figueroa during PFL 2 Las Vegas at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas on Friday. [PFL]

LAS VEGAS — Fight night under the Las Vegas lights with a member of the Ali family on the bill — you’d be forgiven for thinking it was 1975 not 2023.

But it was not Muhammad “The Greatest” Ali on the bill on Friday and there was no boxing ring to be seen, instead it was his grandson Biaggio Ali Walsh that stole the spotlight as he appeared in a mixed martial arts amateur exhibition fight as part of the lineup of PFL 2, the second night of the Professional Fighter’s League regular season at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas.

As it turned out, Ali Walsh made short work of his opponent Isaiah Figueroa, winning the fight by technical knockout at just under the two-minute mark in the first round.

The victory marks his third straight win by technical knockout and is another step toward what many people is going to be a very successful MMA career.

Biaggio Ali Walsh lands a punch on Isaiah Figueroa during an exhibition fight at PFL 2 Las Vegas at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas on Friday. [PFL]

Whilst carrying the Ali name is something of a double-edged sword for Ali Walsh — who has spoken frankly about how it both opens doors and creates serious expectations and a lot of pressure — the newest member of the fighting dynasty did not shy away from his roots.

With professional boxer brother Nico Ali Walsh watching on from the front row, Biaggio Ali Walsh proved to have just as quick hands as the rest of the family, relying on repeated quick jabs before flooring Figueroa with a brutal right hand.

“I started this fight off a little tense,” Ali Walsh said after the fight. “Obviously nervous fighting in front of my hometown and everything so I had to relax for a second once I relaxed, that’s when I got everything adjusted.

“What’s next is I’m gonna fight again. After that, I’m going to fight again. And after that, I’m going to fight again. I’m going to keep fighting until I’m ready to turn pro.”

Ali Walsh also discussed his family name and what that means for him as a fighter.

“You know, every single fighter in the world wants to make their own name,” he said. “Make their own legacy. I’m doing the exact same thing as any other fighter. I just have a famous grandfather is the only difference and with that, I get a little bit more pressure. A little more attention as well, but what happens in the cage is what really matters.”

In true Vegas fashion, fight night was a star-studded affair. Although the Ali Walsh fight was not the most important on the bill, it clearly offered the biggest attraction for Sin City’s best and brightest.

Alongside Nico Ali Walsh and his parents Rasheda Ali and Bob Walsh — both well-known figures in the Vegas celebrity circles — the Ali Walsh camp also included Public Enemy rapper Flavor Flav, who appeared complete with his signature clock medallion over a “Team Ali Walsh” T-shirt.

Nico Ali Walsh, left, and Flavor Flav celebrate while watching Biaggio Ali Walsh fight Isaiah Figueroa in an image posted on the official PFL Instagram account. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

After Flavor Flav, NFL Hall of Famer and former Superbowl MVP Ray Lewis was the biggest name in the house, with other former American football players Marshawn Lynch and Reggie Bush also taking their spots in the front row.

Away from the exhibition fight, the other bouts on Friday were all part of the PFL regular season, where fighters compete to earn points both by winning and by how they win, with the top four fighters in each weight category advancing to the playoffs in the fall.

The arena at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas on Friday. [JIM BULLEY]

The evening started with a series of women’s featherweight bouts. Marina Mokhnatkina beat Yoko Higashi for five points, with Evelyn Martins scraping out three points with a narrow win over Karolina Sobek.

Amber Leibrock was the only fighter in the women’s featherweight category to take the full six points, knocking out Martina Jindrova with a kick to the head.

Three men’s heavyweight bouts followed, with Danilo Marques beating Yorgan de Castro for three points, Maurice Greene flooring Marcelo Nunes for five and Rizvan Kuniev beating Renan Ferriera for three.

Following the break for the Ali Walsh-Figueroa exhibition fight, it was on to the three big match-ups of the night.

First up saw Olena Kolesnyk narrowly edge out Aspen Ladd with a win by decision for two points, before it was on to the two headline fights: 2021 champion Bruno Cappelozza vs. Matheus Scheffel in the heavyweight and reigning champion Larissa Pochecho vs. Julia Budd in the women’s featherweight.

Bruno Cappelozza enters the cage ahead of his fight with Matheus Scheffel during PFL 2 Las Vegas at The Theater at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas on Friday. [PFL]

Both former champions won, Cappelozza by knockout and Pochecho by somewhat controversial decision, ending the night with a lot of action for the packed Vegas crowd.

The PFL returns next Friday for the final night of the Las Vegas stand before it ships off to Atlanta, Georgia for the second fights of the season in a couple of months.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]