BELFAST, Northern Ireland – If it were up to Uriah Hall (12-7), will enter the Octagon on Saturday knowing that another win will propel him into the top-15 of the UFC middleweight rankings.
The face of Hall’s opponent on Saturday, No.5 ranked Gegard Mousasi (40-6-2) is one that is familiar to him as the two had previously met at UFC Fight night 75, a fight which saw the Jamaican American score a stunning spinning back kick to the face of his opponent before stopping him in the 2nd-round.
After inflicting the most devastating loss of the 32-year old Dutchman career the man nicknamed “Primetime” was surprised to to receive the call about a rematch but he is more then willing to play the game to climb the rankings.
“When I got the call and Dana [White] offered me the opportunity to fight him, I was hesitant because I thought to myself that I’ve already knocked him out. Not only did I knock him but I am the only guy to have knocked him out and knock him out spectacularly so why would I go backwards. But you get paid, its a great opportunity, its an opportunity to grow and its an opportunity to play the game of politics and climb the ranks.”
But despite beating Mousasi already Hall doesn’t expect an easy ride in the rematch in fact he expects nothing short of a war when they come face to face.
“There are two reasons why Gegard picked me. One he thinks its an easy fight which he thought the first time and two he wants revenge as for him as a guy who feels his been with the best of the best. But I’m a different breed, I am patient, I am dynamic, I am articulate and I don’t waste shots. This is just him coming in here trying to prove a point and it me just say nah that kick was real.”
“I think the first time he under estimated me but I think this time he won’t so I expect a war and I expect the best Gegard possible as I believe this [the last fight ] is something that really effected him.”
UFC Fight Night 99 takes place at SSE Arena in Belfast and is LIVE exclusively on UFC Fight Pass.
Video via MMACrazyTV
