Victorious Kiwi delivers emotional message
Shane Young is fighting a good fight in and out of the UFC octagon.
The Kiwi fighter is winning praise around the globe for his classy showing at UFC 234 in Melbourne yesterday and it has nothing to do with his unanimous decision victory.
Young, who has fought back from his own mental health demons, used the platform of an international TV audience – likely to be in the millions – to reach out to anyone struggling with their mental health.
Young, who made headlines at Saturday’s weigh-in when he addressed the crowd in te reo Ma¯ ori, ignored questions on his second UFC win to deliver a message that could potentially save lives.
Standing in the octagon – fresh from his featherweight victory over American Austin Arnett – with a badly swollen and cut left eye socket, Young told the crowd inside Rod Laver Arena and a worldwide TV audience the reason he got into MMA was to use the platform ‘‘to try and spread some good in the world’’.
‘‘I just want to let everyone know back home in Aotearoa we have got the highest youth suicide rates and to all you kids, anyone that’s listening right now, I know what you’re going through just reach out to someone, talk.
‘‘It’s all good, we don’t have to be strong. You can be strong by reaching out,’’ Young said.
‘‘We’re a community as people, you know, so you gotta use those people around you (sic).
An emotional Young then told anyone who was listening and struggling with mental health issues to reach out to him on Instagram.
‘‘I’ll help you out,’’ Young said. Young had just completed arguably the best performance of his UFC career but he was only interested in promoting awareness of youth suicide.
All three judges scored the three-round fight 30-27 in Young’s favour.
Young took control of the fight in the second round with a flurry of brutal strikes that put the American on the back foot.
Late last year, the Napier-born but Auckland-based fighter took time out from training and fighting as he dealt with his own mental health issues.
Lacking motivation and no longer feeling his usual bubbly self, Young went back to his roots in Napier, surrounding himself with family while continuing to reconnect with his Ma¯ ori culture.
Following yesterday’s win, Young now has two wins from his three UFC appearances. Kiwi middleweight Israel Adesanya remains unbeaten in the octagon after defeating UFC legend Anderson Silva in the main event of UFC 234 in Melbourne yesterday.
The fight went to the scorecards after going the full three round distance but it was Adesanya who got the win via unanimous decision.
The three judges scored the fight 29-28, 30-27 and 30-27.
In his post-fight interview, Adesanya said that fighting Silva was like fighting his idol.
‘‘If I’m playing basketball this is like playing Michael Jordan,’’ he said.
Earlier, Kai Kara-france’s UFC star continued to rise when the Kiwi flyweight beat Brazilian Raulian Paiva via split decision after the close contest went the three round distance.
Kara-france, 25, was having his second fight in the UFC after beating American Elias Garcia at UFC 142 in Adelaide in December.
With two wins from as many fights in the UFC, 2019 looks set to be a massive year for the Auckland-based fighter.
Two judges scored the closely fought contest 29-28 for Kara-france with the third scoring the fight 28-29 for Paiva.