Devin Miller didn't want to fight. But he felt he had no choice.

Kids were making fun of his brother Dylan, who has autism.

Dylan didn't talk until he was 7 years old. And even when he was able to speak, he often hid and wouldn't talk to anyone.

"The reason why I fight is Dylan," Devin said. "I used to beat people up all the time. I stuck up for my brother."

Devin, 21, is now beating people up as a professional mixed martial arts fighter with a 3-0 record. He fights Friday night in Legacy Fighting Alliance 47 at The Bomb Factory in Deep Ellum.

He also gives back to his brother by teaching a weekly special needs martial arts class at Fitness Fight Factory in North Richland Hills, often with teammate Levi Mowles, who is also on Friday's card.

The class is free. And the results have been extraordinary.

Devin has been mentoring his younger brother for years.

He takes him to the bookstore or McDonald's, where he makes him pay for his food. He taught him how to cook. He helps take care of his fish. But coming to mixed martial arts classes took Dylan to the next level.

During a recent class, Dylan, 20, practiced double-leg takedowns. He knelt down, grabbed the legs of his opponent and knocked him to the ground.

He had a big smile on his face.

Since starting grappling, Dylan communicates more. He carries on a conversation better. He makes friends.

"He used to not talk to kids," Alesha Miller, the boys' mother, said. "He was very reclusive. Training gives him something to talk about.

"Compared to where he is now, it's night and day."

From left: Devin Miller; Trevor Meyer, Trent Meyer, Dylan Miller and Levi Mowles at Fitness Fight Factory in North Richland Hills, Texas. Devin, a mixed martial arts fighter, holds a free weekly special needs class for his brother Dylan and others with autism. (Courtesy: Alesha Miller)

Two students in the class -- Trevor and Trent Meyer -- are brothers with autism. They also have been bullied at school.

"A kid has been messing with Trevor since first grade," the boys' father, John Meyer, said.

Trevor, 12, used to hide and cower. Then he started taking martial arts classes.

"He put the kid in a choke hold, did not hurt the kid, and the kid left him alone," John said.

"That was the last time the kid messed with him."

Devin Miller's special needs classes focus on jiu-jitsu grappling -- one of the key components of mixed martial arts. But the classes also build discipline, the ability to follow instruction and commands.

During the class, it's hard to notice Trevor is autistic.

"He's come so far," Brandi Meyer, the boys' mother said. "He was nonverbal until 5 years old. He enjoys doing it. It's hard to find something they truly care about to motivate him."

Said Trevor: "It feels good to know how to protect myself. Not physically just harm them, just put them in a hold until I can get a teacher to help. It really works."

Younger brother Trent, 9, often had trouble touching other people. The jiu-jitsu grappling makes him more comfortable with sensory skills, one of the key development challenges with autistic children.

The Meyers have three sons with autism. One of them, Troy, 10, has uncontrolled epilepsy.

Brandi Meyer has taken adult classes, where Devin Miller taught her ways to protect her and her child.

"He's taught me things I can do to hold and keep him safe, because he's a self-harmer. He will punch himself, and [Devin] taught me ways to take his back, and we can wait it out until he's calm. None of the psychiatric [stuff] worked, but jiu-jitsu did.

"It helps me keep my kid safe."

For information on the free mixed martial arts special needs class at Fitness Fight Factory, contact 817-656-5600 or www.fitnessfightfactory.com.

1 / 4Dylan Miller (top) practices a jiu-jitsu drill on Levi Mowles at Fitness Fight Factory in North Richland Hills, Texas. Devin Miller, a mixed martial arts fighter, holds a special needs class for his brother Dylan and others with autism.(Mark Francescutti) 2 / 4Dylan Miller (top) practices a jiu-jitsu drill on Levi Mowles at Fitness Fight Factory in North Richland Hills, Texas. Devin Miller, a mixed martial arts fighter, holds a special needs class for his brother Dylan and others with autism.(Mark Francescutti) 3 / 4Dylan Miller (top) practices a jiu-jitsu drill on Levi Mowles at Fitness Fight Factory in North Richland Hills, Texas. Devin Miller, a mixed martial arts fighter, holds a special needs class for his brother Dylan and others with autism.(Mark Francescutti) 4 / 4Dylan Miller and Trevor Meyer practice a jiu-jitsu drill at Fitness Fight Factory in North Richland Hills, Texas. Devin Miller, a mixed martial arts fighter, holds a special needs class for his brother Dylan and others with autism.(Mark Francescutti)

Legacy Fighting Alliance 47

When: 8 p.m. Friday night.

Where: Bomb Factory, Dallas.

TV: AXS TV (Available on AT&T U-verse, Ch. 1106; DirecTV, Ch. 340; DISH, Ch. 167; Frontier Communications, Ch. 569; GEUS, Ch. 694; Grande Communications, Ch. 880; Spectrum (ex-Charter), Ch. 770; Spectrum (ex-Time Warner Market), Ch. 299; Suddenlink (Channels vary); streaming on Sling, DirecTV NOW and Philo

Main Card:

Featherweight Interim Championship: Nate Jennerman vs. Damon Jackson

Featherweight Co-Main Event: Charles Cheeks vs. Levi Mowles

Welterweight: William Macario vs. Ramiz Brahimaj

Welterweight: Bilal Williams vs. Sean Spencer

Strawweight: Cristina Crist vs. Valerie Soto

Featherweight: Eddie Brown vs. Elijah Johns

Bantamweight: Evers Anderson vs. Devin Miller