Billy Graves' life has been defined by extraordinary adversity and even greater perseverance. Homeless by the age of 10 after losing both of his parents, Graves survived a childhood marked by unimaginable trauma. He nearly died after severing his foot as a toddler, couldn't walk until he was four, and suffered another life-threatening injury at five when he cut a major artery in his arm. Born of an addict mother, Graves battled addiction himself, having many close calls from childhood into adulthood.

He spent much of his early adulthood in and out of prison between the ages of 19 and 28. Through it all, Graves found strength in his faith in Jesus, using his experiences to inspire others rather than define him. Today, he is a devoted husband, father of two, tattoo artist, and motivational figure to those around him.

Graves turned to combat sports at 16 as a way to transform his life, weighing nearly 340 pounds at the time. Over the next five years, he lost almost 200 pounds while dedicating himself to martial arts. Although an opportunity to sign with Bellator slipped away because of the people he surrounded himself with, he refused to give up on fighting. A skilled kickboxer with a love for using his hands, Graves captured the 2024 IKF Kickboxing Classic World Championship at 165 pounds before making his BKFC debut.

Influenced by legends such as Ken Shamrock, Randy Couture, Chuck Liddell, Fedor Emelianenko, Mirko Cro Cop, and Clay Guida, Graves brings an old-school warrior mentality into every fight. His mission extends beyond winning—he wants his story to show that no matter how dark life becomes, redemption is always possible.