“Fighting Has Saved My Life” — Ulysses ‘Monster’ Diaz’s Path to Glory

Ulysses ‘Monster’ Diaz (Photo by uly_monster)

Beneath the imposing surface of his tattoo-covered frame and “Monster” alter-ego, seemingly forged through chaos and back-alley brawls, Ulysses Diaz is a man who has been shaped by failures and redemptions much more than rage. If you judged Diaz solely by his intimidating appearance and troubled past, you’d miss the journey of a survivalist who wrote his own blueprint for discipline and an unforeseen ascent in combat sports.

There’s always much more to the monsters we perceive than what meets the eye.

“I know I look crazy,” Diaz said. “If I was walking at night down the street and saw me walking toward me, I’d probably cross the street too. The funny thing is, I tell everybody, if you just give me an opportunity to speak to you, you’ll see I’m really a teddy bear at heart.”

By no means did Diaz take a conventional route to success, with his early years marked by time in juvenile detention and stints in prison. But then again, not everyone finds their way on the same timeline. It wasn’t until later in life, at 35 years old, that Diaz grew tired of a cycle fueled by the streets and chose a different path, turning to combat sports and ultimately becoming a pioneer in the rise and evolution of bare-knuckle boxing. Diaz is a testament to the idea that reinvention doesn’t have an expiration date and that the most important fight is against yourself.

Discipline Over Destruction

“I had what I call a ‘Come to God’ moment,” Diaz told RG. “I had an epiphany. I was sick of my own shit, and I said, ‘Man, if I don’t switch now, I’m going to be dead or in prison soon.’ It didn’t just do a 180 from one day to another. It took maybe another two years to let go of all my old ways and really turn myself around. I was a person who wanted more. I knew that I’m a person that could do better, be better."

Soon thereafter, Diaz laced up the gloves—not with dreams of belts or boxing fame, but simply as a way to stay in shape and clear his head. Needless to say, what started as a workout quickly became the best decision of his life. With coaches who didn’t just train him but always checked in, held him accountable, and understood the roads he had traveled, the gym became his anchor. Uplifted by his support system and a renewed purpose, Diaz got back in the ring, after once dabbling as an amateur earlier in life, and managed to revolutionize his life through fighting.

Since the moment he embarked on a professional combat sports journey in 2017, Diaz knew he’d found his second chance. Not a way out, nor some golden ticket to stardom. Instead, it was the way forward. Diaz aggressively chased any and all opportunities across boxing and MMA, also later jumping at the opportunity to take the gloves back off and make a name for himself through the growing interest of bare-knuckle promotions like BKFC and BKB. Even recently, Diaz stepped into a custom-rules bout with “Platinum” Mike Perry’s Dirty Boxing, always looking for the next challenge and never one to shy away from some of the most brutal stipulations left in the sanctioned world of combat.

Don’t Blink… You’ll Miss the “Monster”

The more consistent he stays, the more doors keep opening. However, when Diaz walks through said door, it’s only the “Monster” that comes to play—a name earned when his first boxing coach labeled Diaz the pet monster, and one his knockout-heavy resume (13 KOs since Nov. 2018, per Tapology) certainly justifies.

“I’ve always had a lot of power behind my punches,” Diaz shared. “I’ve known since I was a kid. Never been the most technical, but definitely, if I land something you’re going to feel it—if it doesn’t finish the fight.”

His reputation as a violent finisher was cemented at BKFC 14 on November 13, 2020, when he delivered a mind-blowing, record-setting knockout strike just three seconds into his fight against Donelei Benedetto. When Diaz toes that line, the last thing you want to do is blink.

“I studied that guy,” Diaz said. “That was just one of those days that the plan worked out to perfection. He was a taller guy who liked to extend his arms and put his chin in the air. I threw a jab; he extended his arms, and I came with that overhand right that landed on the button and made history.”

In the aftermath of this methodical execution, Diaz’s name was blasted throughout the fight scene as a Miami maniac now holding the fastest knockout in combat sports history. Since then, BKFC has officially named Justin Watson the new record owner after his knockout over Cole Ferrell at BKFC 69 in Dec. 2024, though Diaz still disputes any notion that his feat was surpassed that night.

“If you play the knockouts side by side, my guy’s knocked out before he even starts,” Diaz said. “I’ll let the fans decide and settle that. Until then, I’m claiming the record for the fastest knockout.”

Despite fighting like he has something to prove at 44 years of age, Diaz says he still feels 20 years younger, crediting a grounded routine of clean eating, constant training, and a sharp focus on mental health. As long as his body holds up and the checks keep coming, Diaz plans to stay between the ropes, aware that the fight game isn’t all about skill alone. It’s about knowing your lane, selling your story, and making it work. He did just that, beating the odds and reworking a script that once seemed destined for tragedy in the end.

Behind every punch, Diaz sees the shadow of a life he left behind and a reminder of what could have been had he not rooted himself in the art of war.

“Fighting has saved my life,” Diaz admitted, gratefully.

Calling Out Mike Perry

Following his debut under the Dirty Boxing banner back in March, with the crowd still buzzing, Diaz tipped his cap to owner Mike Perry, a UFC and BKFC veteran, for building something fresh and gritty. Beyond that, he also took the chance to call for a real Dirty Boxing test, saying that if Perry’s still in the business of fighting, he’d like to be the one that stands across the ring from him next.

“Let’s make a show of it,” Diaz stated. “[Perry]’s a great fighter. I don’t think it would be an easy fight, but it’s going to be a hell of a fight. I think the crowd wants to see it.”

Whether the opponent is Perry or not, Diaz revealed to RG that there will be news about a Dirty Boxing return coming soon enough.

“You might see me next month,” Diaz added. “Maybe July. Maybe August. They’re setting up a nice fight. Big-name opponent. Maybe we’ll circle back in a month and I can let you know what’s going on.”