>
Hollywood wants to make a movie about Aussie UFC star whose ‘hood rat’ dad stabbed him in the chest and smashed his teeth out – as Octagon warrior reveals emotional reason he always wears an army hat to his fights
- Tyson Pedro has had Hollywood producers asking to adapt his life story into a feature film
- Pedro, 30, had a tough upbringing which saw him beaten badly by his father – whom he now has a great relationship with
- John Pedro was a pioneer of Aussie mixed martial arts and paved the way for down under stars of today
<!–
<!–
<!–
<!–
<!–
<!–
UFC fighter Tyson Pedro’s life story is so unbelievable that movie producers are talking about transforming it into a feature film.
The 30-year-old from Penrith in western Sydney made his successful return to the Octagon earlier this year after the longest injury layoff in UFC history – but that’s only part of his incredible journey.
The light heavyweight – who takes on Harry Hunsucker at UFC 278 this weekend – recently revealed details about his troubled upbringing which saw him at times warring with his father John, who was a pioneer of mixed martial arts in Australia.
Tyson Pedro, 30, pictured with his father John (left) and fight team after a victory in the Octagon against Ike Villanueva in April 2022
Tyson Pedro fighting Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua of Brazil in their light heavyweight bout in December 2018. Pedro would injure his knee in this bout, sidelining him for more than three years
John Pedro – an American Samoan and self-proclaimed ‘hood rat’ – brought Tyson up tough and wanted to teach him the realities about the life he experienced growing up amid the gang wars between the Crips and Bloods in Los Angeles.
This involved him knocking out Tyson’s front teeth in a brutal sparring match and at one point accidentally stabbing him in the chest.
It is little wonder that several Hollywood producers want to turn the story into a feature film.
John told the Daily Telegraph that it’s not just Hollywood that’s chasing him, either: ‘I’ve had a filmmaker from England reach out, too.’
But each time producers have inquired about making the movie, Tyson and his father have knocked them back because they’re not convinced people would understand the ‘uniqueness’ of their story or relationship.
Tyson Pedro has his hand raised in victory after his bout with Ike Villanueva. Hollywood producers have shown interest in adapting his life story into a feature film
John Pedro’s quest to introduce MMA into Australia could be a movie in itself.
Local stars like Robert Whittaker, Alexander Volkanovski and Tai Tuivasa might have never had promotions to compete in without his efforts launching the pro fighting organisation King of the Cage.
‘For a long time it was me, the hood rat, arguing with lawyers, politicians, Sports Ministers,’ explains John.
‘I was alone, threatened with arrest, and with everyone saying MMA would never get off the ground.’
Tyson’s incredible injury struggles have been widely reported, but what is less widely known are his mental struggles throughout the ordeal.
‘I had a nervous breakdown,’ he revealed. ‘I’ve never spoken about this to anyone outside close family but the pressure got too much.
‘I’d had four years worrying about my knee, about money, about providing for my wife and daughter … and now, finally, here was the time where I had to win.
‘So one day I just started drinking, and that was it. I disappeared on a bender for days.’
John Pedro was instrumental in helping his son through this dark period and getting his training back on track.
The story behind Tyson’s boonie military hat – which he can be seen wearing on every entrance to the Octagon – is also a tale worth telling.
The headwear belonged to Tyson’s cousin Brian, who was killed while serving with the US Army in Afghanistan in 2010 and Tyson wears it to honour his family.
In more recent times, Tyson and his brother-in-law Tai Tuivasa have launched their own beer brand Drink West, which has been signed on as the UFC’s official beer partner in Australia for the rest of 2022.
Despite starting small, the pair – and new shareholder, NRL superstar Nathan Cleary – are now in the process of building a $1.5 million brewery close to Panthers Stadium in Penrith.