UFC veteran Ryan Hall, who also is a former Ultimate Fighter winner, will look to announce his return to the Octagon with a bang, as he comes out of his shell to fight the raging Ilia Topuria this coming Saturday in the preliminary portion of UFC 264: Poirier vs. McGregor 3. Check out our preview of this featherweight tussle below.
Hall has not fought in nearly two years. The last time he stepped inside the Octagon was way back in July 2019 when he scored a clean unanimous decision victory over Darren Elkins. Prior to that, he defeated a legend in the form of BJ Penn via submission in December 2018. Hall has seemingly embraced the trend of showing up to a fight after a prolonged absence. He has only fought four times since 2015, with each fight occurring in different years. That being said, Hall has been undefeated since losing his pro debut in 2006, racking up with wins in a row after a unanimous decision loss to Eddie Fyvie in an RF 12: Reality Fighting 12 fight in 2006. A grappler, Hall has three wins by way of submissions. He is out to prove that he’s still got it, as he looks to show the world he’s more than just a stepping stone for an up-and-comer like Topuria.
Topuria is rapidly becoming one of the best-kept secrets of the MMA world. He is undefeated in 10 pro fights and 2-0 in the UFC. He made his UFC debut in October 2020 and right out of the gate, scored a unanimous decision win over Youssef Zalal. Almost two months later, he fought Damon Jackson and won via a sensational first-round knockout. Even with the power he showed in his victory over Jackson, the Alicante Spain-based Topuria can get the job done on the mat. He has seven wins via submissions. Against Zalal, Topuria had five takedowns and five submission attempts. Topuria’s submission wins include two via rear-naked chokes and two vua guillotines. He’s still on his way to his prime, as compared to Hall, who’s certainly way past his now that he’s 36.
