UFC & Dana White pay tribute to 21 year old Shalie Lipp after tragic passing

The MMA community is in mourning following the tragic death of rising star Shalie Lipp. Just two weeks before a major bout, Lipp was killed in a car accident on the I-94 bridge connecting Fargo and Moorhead.

The news has sent ripples throughout the sport, and many are struggling to come to terms with the loss of such a promising young athlete.

She was on the verge of being recognized by top MMA organizations.

Lipp was scheduled to compete against Natalie Gauge for the flyweight title at Ignite No Mercy 11 in Detroit Lakes. Unfortunately, the accident ended her career before it had a chance to truly take off.

Despite her short career, Lipp had already made an impact on the MMA community. At UFC Charlotte, the organization paid a moving homage to Lipp. A memorial sticker with her name was placed on the cage door as a tribute to her.

Her story has also touched the hearts of many, including UFC president Dana White.

White was informed of Lipp’s death by former women’s flyweight title challenger Lauren Murphy, and he was understandably devastated by the news. During the UFC Charlotte news conference, White spoke about the tragic story of Shalie Lipp. He expressed his grief and explained how deeply affected he was by the news.

He said: “That girl hurt me bad. It messed me up for a few days. Tragic things happen everyday. That one got me…. Her mom found her journal and at the end of every entry she wrote, ‘Dana White will know my name.”

“I posted about her. I’ve talked to her mom a couple of times. I think I’ve been annoying her mom since I found out [about the story]. I did the best I could do over the last several days.”