Hall not giving up, hopes for Mousasi trilogy fight some day

Uriah Hall started fighting over a decade ago. In just his fourth fight, he won the prestigious Ring of Combat title. He lost it in his first title defense, to a newcomer named Chris Weidman. Then he lost the next one too, to Costas Philippou.

Hall bounced back with three wins in Ring of Combat, and then tore through The Ultimate Fighter 17 winning four fights, and sending the majority to the hospital. However, the TUF Beast lost the TUF Finale to Kelvin Gastelum via Split Decision. Then he lost to John Howard, again via Split Decision.

Hall bounced back winning three in a row, before dropping a split Decision to Rafael Natal, and then won two more. In his most recent run, he lost a decision to Robert Whittaker, was stopped by Derek Brunson, and on Saturday was stopped by Gegard Mousasi. It is the first time Hall lost three in a row, a common threshold for being cut by the UFC.

However, at the post-fight press conference, Hall vowed to fight on, and said the last two stoppages were a little fast.

It’s a loss; sometimes you go in there and it doesn’t go your way, said Hall to Mike Bohn for MMAjunkie. You take it as an athlete, as a professional. You just got to pick yourself up. It doesn’t determine or dictate where I can go from there or say I should stay there. It just happens.

I have a lot of kids that are looking up to me, so what kind of example would I set by just quitting? I’m going to keep doing it until I get it. I’m going to fail sometimes, but I’m going to keep doing it until I get it.

I’ve been here before, the fight before that [an early stoppage] kind of happened. It’s part of the business. There’s nothing I can say. As much as I can complain and s*** and moan, it is what it is. I didn’t hear the ref, he said he was screaming, ‘Fight back.’ I didn’t really hear him. Gegard was punching the S*** out of me, but I was like, ‘Alright, I’m good.’ I can take a punch. It’s what I do for a living. But it is what it is, man.

I do think [Mousasi] deserves a title shot, though – he worked his ass off. Maybe down the line when he gets it, we’ll cross paths again. Nothing against the guy – he brings out the best in me. I’m sure I do to him. I’m sure after my last fight he said, ‘You know what? F this, man. I shouldn’t have lost to this guy.’ We’ve seen him win; he’s been dominating. I lit a fire under his ass. But I’m sure down the line, respectfully, I would like to go up against him again.