RAPID CITY, S.D. — For most athletes, competing in front of a hometown crowd comes with pressure. For Rapid City’s Shy Bintliff, it comes with something even bigger: pride.

On Aug. 8, Bintliff will once again step into the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship ring at the Legendary Buffalo Chip during the 86th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, competing before thousands of fans and just ahead of Megadeth taking the stage. It’s one of the biggest combat sports events of Rally week, but for Bintliff, the opportunity means far more than another fight.

“This is where I belong,” she said. “The Buffalo Chip is unlike anything else. When other fighters find out they’re on the Buffalo Chip card, they always ask me what it’s like. I tell them, ‘You’re never going to experience anything like it anywhere else.'”

Representing Rapid City on one of the biggest stages in the Black Hills has become a source of pride, not just for Bintliff, but for the community that continues to rally behind her.

Her journey into combat sports, however, didn’t begin with dreams of becoming a professional fighter.

“I kind of grew up a little scrappy,” Bintliff laughed. “I had a little brother, and if anybody messed with him, I had no problem stepping in.”

That competitive spirit eventually evolved into a love for athletics. After years of playing sports, she discovered MMA through friends involved in the local Ring Wars scene. What started as trying something new quickly turned into a passion.

“I fell in love with the camaraderie and the sportsmanship,” she said. “Then I started doing some charity boxing events and realized I was actually better at boxing than I was at MMA. From there, someone offered me an opportunity in bare knuckle, and I thought, ‘Absolutely. That sounds like fun.'”

While many people assume bare-knuckle fighting is simply about toughness, Bintliff says success inside the ring requires much more than being willing to absorb punishment.

“It’s a lot more than just being tough,” she said. “Your fight IQ has to be there. You have to read your opponent, read the ring and understand your opportunities.”

Unlike traditional boxing, BKFC rounds last only two minutes, forcing fighters to make every second count.

“You have to be explosive, but you also have to be smart,” she explained. “You can’t just throw everything as hard as you can because you’ll break your hands. You have to pick your shots, use your technique and find what works for you.”

As exciting as fighting in front of thousands of hometown supporters can be, Bintliff admits it also creates an emotional challenge.

“The support is incredible,” she said. “People message me before every fight wishing me luck, telling me they’ll be there or watching on TV. It’s overwhelming in the best way.”

Because of that, she intentionally limits communication before stepping into the ring.

“I have to draw the line,” she said. “Otherwise I get emotional. Seeing so many people who’ve watched me from where I started to where I am now… it’s really special.”

Music also plays an important role in her preparation. Depending on the day, she’ll either listen to motivational speakers or a high-energy rock playlist before making the walk to the ring.

With Megadeth performing immediately after the fights, Bintliff knows the atmosphere will be electric, but she’s just as excited for fans experiencing the Buffalo Chip for the first time.

“The music, the people, the energy… it’s all part of what makes the Buffalo Chip so special,” she said. “If you’ve never been there, you really don’t know until you experience it.”

Away from competition, Bintliff hopes people see something much simpler than a professional fighter.

“I’m just an average, everyday person,” she said. “I work normal jobs, I work hard, and I live a pretty humble life.”

She credits the Black Hills community for helping shape who she is and says returning home always reminds her why she loves the area.

“I’ve lived in bigger cities where you don’t have that same sense of community,” she said. “Coming back here and representing where I’m from means everything.”

As she prepares to enter the ring on one of Rally week’s biggest stages, Bintliff hopes local fans come ready to experience something unforgettable.

“I hope to see everybody there,” she said. “We’re going to put on a great show. For anyone who’s never seen bare-knuckle fighting before, it’s going to be something you’ve never experienced.”

And before signing off, she offered one final piece of advice with a smile.

“Have fun,” she said. “Just don’t drink and drive.”