Dennis Hallman to make pro boxing debut Sat
Dennis Hallman: “I’m trying to stay active because I’m kind of near the very end of my career. I want to stay as active as I can, so boxing is what’s going to keep me active.”
UFC Lightweight Dennis Hallman, 38, is making his professional boxing debut on Saturday, citing the difficulty of getting fights in MMA.
Hallman started fighting 18 years ago, and was released by the UFC in October of 2012, following his failure to make weight for a schedule fight with Thiago Tavares at UFC on FX 5. He was paid both his show and his win money, and the UFC noted that Hallman had personal issues to attend to.
Hallman had been the middle of a custody battle with his ex-wife, who he alleges was struggling with drug addiction. The Yelm, Wash native said he only took the fight because he desperately needed the money to get his daughter back. Although the fight never happened, the UFC gave him both his win and show money.
Hallman fought twice in 2013, beating Dan Hornbuckle and Alexei Shapovalov; he also fought once in 2014, losing a unanimous decision to Jon Fitch. However, three fights in three years was not enough, so he made a change.
His opponent, Frankie Orr is 36 and 0-1 as a pro boxer and 2-3 as an MMA fighter.
Right now it’s pretty difficult to get a fight in MMA because of how many fights I’ve had and just opponents, said Hallman to Tyler Huey for YelmOnLine. I’m trying to stay active because I’m kind of near the very end of my career. I want to stay as active as I can, so boxing is what’s going to keep me active.
I’m not a good fight for an up-and-coming (MMA) fighter because of my ability and they’ll get beat. I’m just a tough fight for anybody. People that are trying to build up their record and get places don’t want to fight me, and people that are already (more accomplished) don’t want to fight. I have to find that right situation.
In mixed martial arts you have to be aware of the takedown. The stance is even completely different. You stand square facing your opponent in MMA so you can respect kicks, punches and takedowns. In boxing, the stance is different because you’re only getting punched in the scoring target.
I’ve been competing in combat sports for so long it’s not a huge difference and … a third of my training has always been striking, so I was always familiar with it.”
I had to just learn to adjust to the speed and the ability to see punches, different target areas and the ability to predict where I was going to be next. Footwork was very challenging.
Frankie has been very active on the MMA circuit as of late, so I’m expecting him to come in shap. He knows me from MMA and he’s ready for me. I am aware of what he brings and I’m prepared for it.
I always want to come in and finish the fight as quickly as possible. That’s what the fans come to see. The fans always want to see the finish and in boxing come to see the knockout, so I’m going to go to the fight leaving it all out there. I’m going to try to find the knockout.
This fight is really about what Frankie Orr can handle. He’s giving up the experience against me and I’m the better athlete, so it’s really about what he can handle, not what I can handle. I’m going in there as the favorite, but I’m not underestimating him at all. I hold myself to a high standard. Anything other than a knockout, I’m going to be disappointed.
If I was good at tennis then I’d be playing tennis. If I was good at bowling I’d be bowling, but I happened to be good at fighting so that’s what I like to do. Competition is something that kind of rocks my boat.