Shalie Lipp was a young and talented MMA fighter who had a bright future ahead of her. She had competed in five amateur MMA fights, winning three and losing two. She had also trained in Thailand for a month, honing her skills in MMA and Muay Thai. She was scheduled to fight Natalie Gage for the women’s flyweight title at Ignite No Mercy 11 in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota on May 20, 2023. However, fate had other plans for her.
The Fatal Crash
On May 7, 2023, Shalie Lipp was riding as a passenger in a 2015 Chevy Malibu driven by Joseph Trottier, 35, of West Fargo. They were traveling eastbound on Interstate 94 near Moorhead, Minnesota, when they collided with a 2017 Jeep Cherokee carrying three passengers. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, the Malibu “made contact” with the Jeep on the Red River Bridge around 11:30 a.m., causing both vehicles to spin out of control and crash into the guardrail.
Shalie Lipp was the only person in the crash who was not wearing a seat belt, according to the crash report. She suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The other four people involved in the crash were taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The MMA Community Mourns
The news of Shalie Lipp’s death shocked and saddened the MMA community, especially those who knew her personally or followed her career. Many people took to social media to express their condolences and pay tribute to the fallen fighter.
One of them was UFC president Dana White, who shared a heartfelt message on his Instagram account. He revealed that he learned about Shalie Lipp’s death from her mother, who found her journal. In it, Shalie Lipp had written “Dana White will know my name” at the end of every entry, showing her ambition and determination to make it to the UFC.
White wrote: “She is a 21 year old amateur MMA fighter who just passed away in a car accident. She was supposed to fight May 20th and just got home from training in Thailand. Her mother found her journal and i guess at the end of every entry she would write “Dana White will know my name.” Lauren Murphy called and told Mick Maynard the story and it broke my heart… My condolences to her family and friends.”
Another person who honored Shalie Lipp was Jeremy Bjornberg, a promoter for Ignite Fights, the organization that was hosting her title fight. He said that Shalie Lipp had an amazing work ethic and was someone everyone knew was going to go somewhere and end up in the UFC. He also said that the event on May 20 would be dedicated to her memory and that her family would receive the flyweight belt that she was supposed to fight for.
Bjornberg said: “It’s not about anything else but Shalie… When one of our soldiers goes down, all of us gotta get together and support her and her family… Everyone here is honoring her life, and we’re very honored to be a part of it… She was an integral part of what it is we do at Ignite Fights. You know, we’re proud to be associated with someone like Shalie Lipp… That’s what fighters do, they go all-in, and Shalie was all-in, and we’re here all-in for her.”
Many other fighters, coaches, fans, and friends also shared their condolences and memories of Shalie Lipp on social media, remembering her as a kind, passionate, fearless, and inspiring person who loved MMA and life.
A Legacy Cut Short
Shalie Lipp was a rising star in the MMA world who had a lot of potential and talent. She had a dream of becoming a UFC fighter and making Dana White know her name. She had worked hard to achieve her goals and was ready to take on her biggest challenge yet. Unfortunately, she never got the chance to fulfill her destiny.
Shalie Lipp’s cause of death was a tragic accident that took away her life too soon. She left behind a legacy of courage, dedication, and passion that will not be forgotten by those who knew her or followed her journey. She also left behind a message for anyone who has a dream: never give up on it.
