The 33-year-old Virginia native is an intriguing re-entry into a featherweight division that is more exciting than ever, making this perfect timing to those on the outside the Octagon, but for the man with the gloves on, it’s long overdue.
“I’ve been ready to be into it since I was out last time; it’s just been tricky getting somebody else to sign up,” he said. “But I absolutely look at the landscape and would be excited to compete against a number of people, all of whom would be very challenging, and that’s what I’m here for. I guess I can say I’m here for the challenge and I’m here for the developmental aspect of it, and anything else I will tolerate. I’m here for the competition.”
It’s why Hall isn’t talking about title shots, fame or pulling in a record number of social media followers. Being here for the competition, and that alone, makes him a unicorn of sorts in the world of professional sports.
“I would say those things are not on the top of my priority list, that’s for sure,” he said. “All of those things are outside of my control, and my job is to be the best martial artist that I can be, and things will come or not come as they will. I focus on the things I can do myself and let the chips fall as they may.”
Yeah, “The Unicorn” may work better than “The Wizard” as a nickname.
“I guess I would just say I don’t think I have a lot in common with most MMA fighters,” he laughs. “I don’t know if that’s good or bad; all I can say is that seems to be the case.”
That’s what makes him a fighter to watch, even if he didn’t set the world on fire in his two UFC wins over Artem Lobov and Gray Maynard. But he did win both fights, refusing to deviate from the game plan, which was designed for him to get his hand raised. And when it comes to the Penn fight, remember that, unlike Lobov and Maynard, the Hawaiian is a jiu-jitsu black belt and former BJJ world champion, so don’t expect him to have any qualms about going to the mat with Hall.
