Uriah
Hall became a part of history on Saturday night when he shared
the Octagon with Anderson
Silva in what will likely be the legendary Brazilian’s final
UFC bout.
After a slow start, Hall gathered his composure and floored “The
Spider” twice en route to a technical knockout victory at the at
the 1:24 mark of Round 4. Shortly after the finish, the two
middleweights shared an emotional moment of mutual respect in the
cage. Hall was brought to tears by the exchange.
“It’s hard to describe when you’re in it. But just to share that
moment, knowing it could be his last bout and him knowing how much
I respect him, I couldn’t hold [the emotion] back. I feel good to
have shared that moment. That was really important,” Hall said.
“I know for a fact that we respected each other. We were both
trying not to show that as much. But we have so much respect for
each other. We had to separate that. There’s nothing bad I can say
about the guy. He knew I looked up to him and followed most of his
career. It was separating that and becoming martial artists to help
each other grow. I’m just so proud of that moment.”
“I love you. I’m so sorry.”
After defeating his idol, @UriahHallMMA
shared a special moment with @SpiderAnderson
in the Octagon after
#UFCVegas12 pic.twitter.com/cQxAXtwUCD— ESPN MMA (@espnmma)
November 1, 2020
Silva was once regarded by many as the sport’s top pound-for-pound
fighter. The former middleweight champion still holds the UFC
record for longest winning streak (16) and is tied for first
all-time with 11 career KO/TKO triumphs. Hall himself was compared
to Silva during his rise to prominence on Season 17 of “The
Ultimate Fighter.”
“When you think of UFC, you can’t not think of Anderson
Silva,” Hall said. “There are so many great champs, but for
what he did and how he did it. I have so much respect for him and
his family. I’m sad his kids had to witness that, but it’s
work.”
By finishing Silva, Hall was able to accomplish something that
reigning middleweight champion Israel
Adesanya couldn’t when he took a three-round verdict over “The
Spider” in their headlining matchup at UFC 234 (The fight was three
rounds because it was elevated to main-event status on short
notice). Coincidentally, Adesanya was in attendance at the UFC Apex
in Las Vegas for Hall vs. Silva.
“I know he danced with Anderson, and I was the guy that finished
it,” Hall said. “I know there’s an age difference. … He’s the
champ. He had to do what he had to do to get to where he is.
There’s respect. I knew he was out here. My guess, he was trying to
see holes in me or give Anderson the rematch. I thought I looked
sloppy out there.”