Uriah Hall

Uriah Alexander Hall (born July 31, 1984) is a Jamaican-American retired mixed martial artist, professional boxer, and a former kickboxer.

He fought in the Middleweight division for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

He was second on The Ultimate Fighter: Team Jones vs. Team Sonnen.

Prior to his appearance on TUF, Hall competed in Bellator MMA and Ring of Combat, where he saw success in winning the ROC Championship.

He is also the first UFC fighter in history to win a fight without throwing a single strike.

Uriah Hall was born in Spanish Town, Jamaica but moved to the New York City borough of Queens in the United States at the age of 13.

Upon his arrival in the US, he was bullied at school but found refuge in martial arts at the age of 16.

He is a second degree blackbelt in Tiger Schulmann's Mixed Martial Arts under Tiger Schulmann and also competed as a kickboxer in the World Combat League.

Hall started his career 3–0, including a TKO victory over Edwin Aguilar at Bellator 11, before fighting for the vacant Ring of Combat Middleweight title.

Hall missed weight by 0.25 lbs and paid $100 penalty to his opponent.

Despite missing weight, the fight remained a title fight.

Hall won by first-round submission.

In September 2010, Hall suffered his first professional loss as he was defeated by future UFC champion Chris Weidman by TKO.

Hall suffered his second loss to Costas Philippou at Ring of Combat 34 by majority decision.

Hall would get back to his winning ways, collecting 3 consecutive victories over Aung La Nsang, Daniel Akinyemi and Nodar Kudukhashvili.

He won the vacant Ring of Combat Middleweight Championship against Kudukhashvili.

On January 9, 2013, it was announced that Hall had been selected as a fighter for the seventeenth season of The Ultimate Fighter with coaches Jon Jones and Chael Sonnen.

In the opening round to get into the house, Hall took on Andy Enz and won via decision.

Hall was the number two fighter selection for Team Sonnen.

In episode 3 Hall faced Adam Cella from Team Jones.

With just ten seconds left in the first round, Hall unleashed a devastating spinning hook kick to Cella's head that knocked him unconscious.

The knockout was declared the most vicious knockout seen by Dana White over The Ultimate Fighter's eight-year history.

With the win, Hall advanced on to the quarter-finals and took on Bubba McDaniel of Team Jones.

Hall knocked McDaniel out with a right straight counter-punch just as he was advancing forwards in the first round.

That one punch broke McDaniel's face in three places.

This led to Dana White stating that Hall was the "most dangerous" fighter in TUF history and coach Sonnen to say he will be a contender in the middleweight division.

Hall faced Dylan Andrews in the semi-finals.

He displayed a more technical approach, utilizing a jab through a majority of the first round.

Taken down in the second round by Andrews, Hall attempted a kimura submission before throwing strikes from the bottom position that severely hurt Andrews and forced him to lose his top control and caused Hall to land massive ground & pound to secure the TKO victory for Hall.

With his successful 4–0 run on the show, Uriah garnered a lot of attention from the public.

Hall then faced fellow Team Sonnen fighter Kelvin Gastelum in the finals at The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale.

Kelvin Gastelum, in an impressive upset, won the fight via split decision.

Although Hall appeared in good spirits after the loss, the fight was not without controversy.

While Gastelum had visible control of the fight in all three rounds, Hall fans have used FIGHTMETRIC scores to highlight the statistical dominance held by Hall in the second and third rounds.

When asked about his performance in the post-fight conference, Hall stated that his emotional side, stemming from liking and training with Kelvin had gotten the best of him.

He went on to say "Kelvin is a great guy, he's a tough kid you know, I think he's going to go really far in this sport and I'm happy for him."

Hall was expected to fight Nick Ring on August 17, 2013, at UFC Fight Night 26.

However, Ring was pulled from the bout and replaced by Hall's fellow The Ultimate Fighter 17 alumni Josh Samman.

However, on July 17, it was announced that Samman was out of the bout and that Hall would face returning UFC fighter John Howard.

He lost the fight via split decision.