After a successful run as an amateur, Biaggio Ali Walsh is ready to make his professional MMA debut today. The grandson of Muhammad Ali, Ali Walsh scored six straight knockouts as an amateur, which includes all five amateur bouts he had in the PFL going back to his promotional debut at the 2022 PFL World Championships. Ali Walsh was most recently in action in November at the 2023 PFL World Championships, scoring a second-round knockout of Joel Lopez.

 

Emmanuel Palacio, who fights out of Argentina, made his professional MMA debut in December, scoring a first-round submission of Pedro Barrios.

 

Eyes will be tuned into this matchup to see how Ali Walsh holds up in his pro debut. Will he continue his knockout streak into his first pro fight, or will Palacio pull off a major upset?

 

 

Round 1

 

Ali Walsh looks to walk Palacio down right off the bat and scores a very early takedown. Palacio throws up the guard and starts to fire shots from the bottom. Palacio scrambles and sneaks out, but Ali Walsh pins him against the fence. The two pummel and battle within the clinch before Ali Walsh takes Palacio down again. Palacio throws up the guard again and tries to hold down Ali Walsh, locking him up in his guard.

 

Ali Walsh battles out and looks to explode with several shots from up top, but Palacio hangs on the head of Ali Walsh once again. Palacio continues to work Ali Walsh over some more. Ali Walsh fights his way out of the guard and gets into side control. Palacio grabs a hold of Ali Walsh’s head and does a good job at limiting Ali Walsh’s offense. The two stand up with about 15 seconds left. Ali Walsh looks to bring his striking, but Palacio lands a couple of notable shots of his own before the bell.

 

 

Round 2

 

Ali Walsh looks to take back control of the fight, firing off some left hands to start. Ali Walsh lands a low kick that seems to be affecting Palacio. Palacio landing single shots at the end of Ali Walsh’s combinations. Ali Walsh gets a body lock and scores another takedown on Palacio. Palacio pulls guard again and, yet again, holds onto Ali Walsh’s head.

 

 

After about a minute of that positioning, the two are stood back up. Ali Walsh pressures Palacio to the fence, bringing pressure with flurries. Ali Walsh fires off a flying knee! Another body lock and another takedown. Palacio looks for a guillotine, but gets nothing as Ali Walsh is positioned in half guard. Ali Walsh firing off body shots on the ground. Palacio lands a couple of weak hooks to Ali Walsh’s head.

 

 

Round 3

 

The two exchange early before Ali Walsh gets back to where he was and takes down Palacio again. Ali Walsh gets into side control and potentially looks for a Von Flue choke. Ali Walsh keeps control and pressure as he holds off Palacio’s transition attempts. Now a transition into the full guard. Little action from both men, with neither landing any real effective or powerful strikes.

 

The referee orders both men to stand up with about two minutes left in the fight. A low kick and combination from Ali Walsh leads to another takedown from Ali Walsh. Right hand from Ali Walsh on top. Ali Walsh trying to land as much as he can from the top position, battling with Palacio’s guard in the process. Palacio can’t get anything going from bottom, in the meanwhile.

 

 

OFFICIAL RESULT

 

Biaggio Ali Walsh defeats Emmanuel Palacio by unanimous decision (30-27x3), winning his much anticipated pro debut