It wasn’t quite a full-fledged retirement, but it doesn’t sound
like Uriah Hall
plans on fighting anytime soon, either.
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The UFC middleweight posted a statement on Instagram announcing
that he’ll be “stepping away” from mixed martial arts, a sport
where he has competed professionally since 2005.
“It is with great sadness that I will be stepping away from the
greatest sport in the world. I’m going to miss the incredible UFC
staff that has became like family and the mentors I have met along
the way. The UFC has given me the best opportunity to step
completely outside my comfort zone,” Hall wrote.
The 38-year-old Hall is coming off a unanimous decision loss to
Andre
Muniz at UFC 276 on July 2, his second consecutive defeat
within the Las Vegas-based promotion. Prior to that, “Primetime”
compiled a four-bout winning streak that featured triumphs over the
likes of Chris
Weidman, Anderson
Silva and Antonio
Carlos Jr.
“Throughout the years I’ve gone up against some of the best in the
world at the highest level,” Hall wrote. “Although I did not
achieve the rank of world champion I’ve acquired some of my
greatest achievements from mixed martial arts and that was facing
my fears and being a champion in life.
“I want to thank the incredible fans, you guys made the sport what
it is today. It is important to have the right people around you
that care for you and encourage you to become a better version of
yourself. I want to thank my team my coaches my friends and my
family always standing by me. You all have been the driving force
that encouraged me daily. Lastly, I want to specifically thank Dana
White for giving me the opportunity to collide with modern day
gladiators. Thank you for always supporting me [through] the good
and the bad.”
If it is indeed farewell, Hall exits the sport with a 17-11 record.
He rose to prominence on “The Ultimate Fighter 17” before suffering
an upset loss to Kelvin
Gastelum on the finals of the reality show. He had his share of
ups and downs while going 10-9 in the UFC, but he did face many of
the promotion’s top talents, with other notable matchups against
the likes of Sean
Strickland, Paulo
Costa, Gegard
Mousasi, Derek
Brunson, Thiago
Santos and Chris Leben,
among others.