'If I can make it out, you can too,' says Dyer before UFC fight
Shanelle Dyer is using her UFC platform to show young people they can "make it out too" after growing up in a neighbourhood affected by knife crime in west London.
Shanelle Dyer, a 25-year-old Londoner, turned to mixed martial arts as an alternative to a life plagued by knife crime on her housing estate. Encouraged by her parents, Dyer experimented with ballet, gymnastics, and football before finding her passion in MMA. In March, Dyer made her UFC debut by knocking out Ravena Oliveira in the second round of her fight.
Dyer's success and newfound fame have inspired her neighbors to pursue their own dreams, even if those paths diverge from traditional sports. The £73,000 bonus Dyer earned from her UFC debut will allow her to treat her family to a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Paris. Dyer hopes that her story will encourage young people in her neighborhood to steer clear of gang violence and instead find their own niche, whether it be in sports, music, or business.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
