Seven years on the run to fighting in the UFC – Rock’s remarkable journey

Shem Rock did not anticipate that he would survive a day when he made the decision to flee from the police.

He was mistaken: for seven years he had eluded them. But remarkably, it would unexpectedly help him escape a challenging life.

Liverpool’s Rock fled on the run aged 20 because he was accused of a violent burglary and assault in 2014 and was concerned he would face jail time for a crime he did not commit.

He packed his belongings, set his alarm for 5 a.m., and left his Toxteth home the following day.

Rock told BBC Sport, “I waited for them to put a block on this passport, but they didn’t,” Rock said.

“Then I feared that when I get to the French border, they will ask for my passports and arrest me.” My passport was not even examined by them.

“Wow,” I said when I stepped off the Eurostar train in France. I was certain that they would not intervene in my situation.

Rock, who goes by the name Shaqueme Rock, moved to Malaysia, where he spent six months in jail and was kept in custody on remand.

He was found not guilty in court in 2022, removing the charge that had sullied his life.

After accumulating four victories in four matches for European promotion Oktagon, Rock is 32 years old and ready to make his UFC debut.

Nurullo Aliev of Tajikistan will face Rock in a lightweight fight on Saturday in Qatar, where he trains alongside Paddy Pimblett.

Luke Riley, a Liverpool-based boxer, will also make his UFC debut against Bogdan Grad, an Austrian featherweight.

The sky is the limit, remarked Rock, “That was my old life, this is my new life, and now that is that,”

Rock said as a teen that he mixed with “the wrong crowd” and was frequently detained before being let go without any charges.

When he was detained and questioned by the police over an alleged burglary, his life changed.

He panicked when his attorney informed him that the police had mistakenly bailed him.

As a young lad, Rock said, “I knew the rigorole of being arrested, but I didn’t know the rigorole of going to jail.”

“I thought, I’m not going to jail for a crime I’ve already committed., so I fled.”

Rock flew to Thailand for several months before relocating to Malaysia after arriving in France.

He took his first Brazilian jiu-jitsu class there.

“I immediately discovered the bug.” I needed it at that time in my life. I went off the rails and was a little reckless. On and off the mats, my professor taught me discipline, Rock said.

Rock enrolled in two martial arts-based reality television programs in Asia as a way to make money, but when TV producers discovered he was wanted by British police, they kicked him out.

A 27-year-old Rock made the decision to relocate to Ireland to advance his career as opportunities arose.

However, he was detained in Belfast and spent six months incarcerated while awaiting trial after visiting Northern Ireland in 2021 for a fight.

Not for a second did I believe my MMA career was over, Rock remarked.

Every day in my cell, I shadowboxed, and I lifted weights. I exerted every effort.

“I was aware that I had already discovered my passion and what I was supposed to do on this planet.” I couldn’t have stopped myself.

When he was found guilty in April 2022, Rock describes his emotions. The trial was less than 20 minutes long after being on the run for seven years.

“My family and I haven’t seen each other in years in Liverpool.” However, he said, “It was the fact that I was wanted for a burglary” that most piqued my interest.

The best thing for me was to have my name cleared of being a house robber, because they had tarnished my name.

Rock was able to concentrate entirely on MMA now that he had been free of the accusations he had endured for almost ten years.

On Thursday or Friday, I was out of jail, and on Monday, I spent the day working out in the gym. Straight into the depths: “It was boss,” Rock asserted.

He claims joining Next Generation was a “no-brainer,” and he hasn’t looked back since.