{
  "id": 17099372,
  "title": "Tom Nolan says MMA helped him escape troubled hometown before UFC main event",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/29/tom-nolan-says-mma-helped-him-escape-troubled-hometown-before-ufc",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-29T18:02:19.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/tom-nolan-says-mma-helped-180219972.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Tom Nolan, an Australian lightweight fighter, is set to headline UFC Vegas 123 against Renato \"Money\" Moicano on October 31 at Meta Apex in Las Vegas. Speaking at UFC media day, Nolan expressed his desire to inspire aspiring fighters, regardless of their backgrounds. Nolan, who hails from a small town plagued by crime and drugs, said he sees his UFC main event as an opportunity to encourage others who might think their circumstances prevent them from pursuing their dreams. \"I like to be able to hopefully someday be an inspiration for other fighters who are on the come up,\" Nolan said. \"It doesn't matter where I come from or who I am or what I'm supposed to be.\" Nolan's hometown was described as one of Australia's most notorious for theft and drug-related issues, making it difficult for many to envision a different future. However, Nolan believes his journey from that environment to the main event spotlight proves that dedication and hard work can open doors to success. \"I got into this sport to escape that,\" he added. \"And I'm sure there's plenty of other people who want to escape that. So I would like to be a beacon if I can for that.\"",
  "summary": "Tom Nolan hopes his rise to the Ultimate Fighting Championship main event spotlight can inspire aspiring fighters to pursue their ambitions, regardless of where they come from.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}