Backstory: Sidney Outlaw

Sidney Outlaw has had the kind of life that you’ve only seen in the movies. Think Rocky, Southpaw, or even Million Dollar Baby–a protagonist fighting for a better life with poverty and hardships stacked against them. Outlaw has come a long way from sleeping in high school football fields and park benches. On February 24th, he cemented his status as a champion by winning Lou Neglia’s Ring of Combat’s Welterweight title. Sidney joins a host of impressive fighters that have gone through Neglia’s promotion, including Gregor Gillespie, Chris Wade, Frankie Edgar, Randy Brown, Chris Weidman, and Matt Serra.

A student of Dante Rivera and Ricardo Almeida, Outlaw’s path has not been a simple one. Born in North Philly–a city that has one of the highest violent crime rate in the country–his journey to success would be much more difficult than his future teammates.

He says, “I grew up literally across the street from a park that I was never allowed to play in. I wasn’t allowed to be outside of my house, my mom always kept us inside. I just wanted to go to the park, but we never went, not even once.”

Despite the fact that his father was boxer, his pursuits of becoming a mixed martial artist were not supported at all.

“If you were an Outlaw, you had only three options: boxing, the military, or school. My dad didn’t want me fighting and wanted me to go to school. I had to follow my heart and become a fighter. Since I made that decision, he’s hardly talked to me and lets it be known that he doesn’t care too much for me. My mom has had to bribe him to come to my fights, and he’s only came to two. The first one he came to was one that I lost–and all I heard from him was that I was a loser and was never going to make it. The next one, I won, but it still wasn’t enough. He said I didn’t make it a spectacular enough fight, and he was disappointed. Sure, that could hurt me or it could fuel me. I’m a champion now and will be a champion again, with or without his support.”

When Sidney made the decision to become a fighter, he gave up many aspects of his lifestyle–such as being supported by his family or saving money for the future–and focused solely on training. It was this narrow-minded thinking that led to his eventual homelessness. Feeling as though he couldn’t go back home or ask for help, Outlaw had to turn to government assistance to be able to feed himself. Even without a place to sleep or a regular eating schedule he would still show up in time for morning and afternoon practices.

“My day would look like this: wake up in the park or the field, go to the gym, train, and then go to work where I was a security guard. Afterwards, I’d go back to the football field and get some sleep until the next day. I was showering and washing my clothes at the gym, but working as hard as I could to put some money aside to get a place of my own. I just stopped showing up to get a welfare check–I hated going there. Those people weren’t like me. I’d look around and see them high out of their mind, or dragging their kids, or just not in a good state, and I didn’t even want to be in the same category as them. I was trying to change my life for the better and it seemed like they were okay with staying the same.”

While homeless, Sidney had to fend for himself several times. There instances where he was shot at or had to break up brawls at the bar where he worked security. His life was constantly in danger, and the only place that he was really safe was at the gym. Even with the fighters punching him in the face or attempting to choke him out, it was a much better environment than the cold dark nights on an open grassy field. Many times Outlaw would stay up the entire night because he did not feel like it was safe to sleep, only to train and work again the next day. Even with his struggles, he refused to give up.

“I’m willing to suffer for all of this. I’ve given my safety and security up before. I’m not afraid to lose anything, just for the chance to gain that glory. I know what it means to sacrifice–to run two more miles instead of having another sip of water, to sit in a sauna instead of the fresh air, not seeing the outside world for days at a time because I’m living inside of the gym. I love it, I live for this, and these are the reasons why I’m alive.”

It took some time and a lot of discipline, but Sidney was able to pull it together to get a place of his own. He never for a second considered turning to an alternative lifestyle, one with more stability and security. Going back to school is an eventual goal for the fighter, but competing and becoming a UFC champion is what his heart has been set on for several years.

“A regular life is for the birds. I’m a fighter. I know what the consequences are, how it can affect your brain and your body. I’d rather be a champ that makes it to 60 then someone who lives an ordinary and boring life that lives to 100. Everyone has a place in the world and a special gift. I think mine is fighting. I’m certain my ancestors were gladiators, because I feel it deep in my soul that I’m a warrior.”

Outlaw now has a stable foundation of people he can count on that can help him achieve his dreams. He counts Mike DeMarco, Nick Catone, Dante Rivera, James Meals, Lou Neglia, Battlescar Management and his manager Matt Culley, Ricardo Almeida, and Keith Weiss as a part of his team.

“Where my life is right now is much better than it was before. I have a lot of good people who really support me and have my back, but in a strange way, more people than ever that don’t want me to succeed. It’s like there are people who are happy to try to hold me back, but I’ve got God on my side and I just have to see past that. The people I look up to the most are Frankie Edgar and Randy Brown. Frankie is the guy that’s always at the gym–he’s the first to come and the last to leave. Randy is like a big brother to me, and is always giving me advice about how I can make my life better. I saw Matt [Culley]and Sensei Nardu Debrah telling him that he’s going to lose nothing and take everything before his training sessions–that was the kind of life I wanted for myself, so I went up to them and asked to be a part of their team. Those decisions have been the best of my life, but I still have more I want to achieve. Even with this ROC belt, I don’t feel any better or different. I’m in a room of champions, and one day I’m going to get in that club with them.”

Everyone on the East Coast rooting for Sidney is certain he will get there.

Writer: Pari Aryafar