Hyder Amil Details Transition to MMA After Being Raised to Become an Artist

Ultimate Fighting Championship featherweight prospect Hyder Amil did not always plan on becoming a fighter.

Amil scored his second UFC win on Saturday, besting Jeong Yeong Lee via first-round TKO at UFC on ESPN 60 . “The Hurricane” subsequently shared how he got into combat sports after being raised to become an “intellectual” and an artist.

The only male in the family growing up, Amil initially started training martial arts to protect his sisters and mother. Amil’s natural athletic abilities soon attracted people’s attention, who then introduced him to several sports. Amil, who claims to have a knack for anything art related, “blames” his friends for getting him into sports and MMA.



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“I was just myself, my two sisters and my mom. So, I wanted to learn martial arts originally, what motivated me to stay in it was to protect them,” Amil said during a post-fight media scrum. “Because I was the only boy in the house. And then everyone in school saw that I was a pretty good athlete, so they got me into football and wrestling and then my friends got me into fighting and kickboxing.

“… Everyone from my community in San Rafael Marin county, California, I blame those guys and my friends around there for helping me get into MMA, get into sports. Because my mom raised me to be an intellectual and an artist, actually. But they got me into sports and stuff like that, so shout out to you guys… I can do anything in art, painting, ceramics, anything drawing. I will show you guys some day. But I have two murals in Berkeley, California.”

Having started his UFC journey with back-to-back knockout wins, Amil called for slot in a crowded arena for his next outing.

I want a Top 30, Top 20 guy. I’m healthy, send me somebody dude,” he said. “I can’t wait, this is too fun… But you have to put me in an arena. I’m too fun and too exciting to not be in an arena. Please Dana, get me an arena, I’m gonna put on a show… Chase Center in San Francisco. If you can make Chase Center happen, I’m gonna make that place explode.