The Southpaw Outlaw, role model with autism, wins pro debut
The Southpaw Outlaw: “It’s a big reason why I fight. I want to show that there can be good role models in the autism community.”
Serena ‘The Southpaw Outlaw’ DeJesus made her pro debut on Saturday night, winning a hard-fought unanimous decision in the co-main event of Fusion Fight League in Great Falls, Montana.
Her friend, UFC title challenger Roxanne Modafferi broke the news via her social network.
Kudos came in as well from Serena and Roxanne’s gym, Syndicate MMA.
https://twitter.com/SyndicateMMA/status/985527774466064384
Fighting is really hard; that’s why there are a handful of people inside the cage, and hundreds, thousands, or millions watching. DeJesus fight is all the more remarkable, as she is one of the first professional MMA fighters to be diagnosed with autism.
Prior to the fight, she spoke with Montana Sports about being a role model.
“It’s a big reason why I fight,” said Serena, as transcribed by B/R MMA editor Brian Oswald. “I want to show that there can be good role models in the autism community. Everybody looks up to fighters. I can be that strong example that you can do it; even if something is hard, just try, try again. It’s great. I have two siblings who are also autistic, and they’re doing it too. One of them wants to fight like me when they get to be of age, and the other one wants to be social and be healthy, so it’s nice.”
The UnderGround offers huge congratulations to DeJesus for her remarkable fight.