In Episode 3 of "The Ultimate Fighter"’s 17th season, Uriah Hall unleashed a spinning hook kick that destroyed Adam Cella and was recognized as the most devastating knockout in the history of the show. Not only that, but the knockout was routinely displayed on every highlight show and thrust Hall into the limelight.
Although he didn't win the show, the expectations for the New York native were through the roof; however, Hall hasn't quite lived up to the hype. In the five years that have passed since "TUF" 17, Hall has gone 6-6 and has lacked the flash and flair that was expected after he drew immediate comparisons to MMA legend Anderson Silva. Many have questioned his heart while others have wondered aloud if there was something mental that has prevented Hall from showcasing the talent that everyone knows he possesses.
MORE: Ronda Rousey thankful after becoming first woman inducted into UFC HOF
To add insult to injury, Hall suffered a life-threatening health scare ahead of his scheduled showdown with Vitor Belfort back in January. A brutal weight cut led to Hall fainting before he attempted to hit the scales, and he later would say that he may have had a slight heart attack and a mini-seizure. Although he went to Instagram to explain his side of the story, fans who were skeptical of Hall being unable to make weight began filling up his comments with volatile messages.
Now that the dust has settled, Hall will have the opportunity to prove himself when he faces Paulo Costa at UFC 226, but the "TUF" alum says there will be a different version of himself than the one fans have gotten used to berating. This version of Hall has mastered the art of not giving a damn what anyone has to say.
"Fans are the worst," Hall told Sporting News. "MMA fans are just as bad as soccer fans because they don’t realize it’s a game. To them, it’s more than a game, and that becomes a problem."
Hall explained that fan criticism reached its peak when he "nearly died" trying to make weight for the scheduled fight with Belfort. It was at that moment he realized that it was imperative to stop concerning himself with what fans thought. Perhaps one of the biggest influences on how he viewed the fight game came from newly minted UFC Hall of Famer Ronda Rousey.
"(Fan comments) used to affect me a lot and it really messed with me," he said. "One of the best things Ronda Rousey told me was that her mom used to grab her before every fight and tell her, 'Nobody has the right to beat you.' It took me a while to understand it, but now I carry that mindset.”
MORE: UFC 226 schedule, how to watch
Hall has heard Paulo Costa call him mentally weak and vows to make him pay for it in Las Vegas, but he also says that fans should have no expectations heading into this fight and simply wait to see the picture that he plans to paint at the T-Mobile Arena.
"There’s so much noise, but you have to get a white canvas and paint like an artist," Hall said. "I stopped looking back to ask people what I should paint and decided to paint how I want to paint. Why am I going to live someone else’s life and fight the way they want instead of my how I want to?"
