What’s Next For Uriah Hall?

Another weekend of fisticuffs has come and gone with UFC Vegas 33 blowing the roof off UFC Apex last Saturday night (July 31, 2021) in Las Vegas, Nevada. Plenty of fighters were left licking their wounds, including Gloria de Paula, who was beatdown rather violently — and quickly — by Cheyanne Buys.

And Niklas Stolze, who also suffered a first round knockout defeat at the hands of Jared Gooden, though he did last eight seconds longer in the cage (see it again here). But which fighter is suffering from the worst post-fight hangover, now a few days removed from the show?

Uriah Hall.

Coming into his headlining bout against Sean Strickland, Hall was looking to score his fifth straight win, which would be the longest win streak of his career. A victory over a streaking fighter like Strickland — who had won four in a row heading into the fight — could have been what catapulted him into the Top 5 for the first time in his career, as well.

Unfortunately for “Prime Time,” he came up short in one of the biggest fights and opportunities in his career. He was outmatched from the much more aggressive Strickland, who tagged Hall early and often, cutting him open and nearly finishing him on a couple of occasions. Though Hall proved his toughness, it just wasn’t enough to get the job done.

The loss is a tough one for “Prime Time” because not only does it end his great run, it forces him back to the drawing board in hopes of starting another win streak that can get him back into the mix. And that’s just what he plans to do.

“Tough one last night. Congratulations to Sean Strickland. I was prepared he was just the better man last night, he wrote on Instagram. “This one hurts, but I’ll be back. Thank you for all the messages and love. It means more then you know.”

Despite the setback, Hall has shown in the past he can bounce back and rack up wins in a hurry. It won’t be easier this time around since new blood keeps coming into the Octagon every week it seems. Not to mention he still has to worry about the veteran sharks still lurking around.

As far as what could be next for him, a fight against Edmen Shahbazyan seems appropriate. “The Golden Boy” is coming off a tough loss to Jack Hermansson, his second straight defeat. Like Hall, Shahbazyan came into the Octagon with a lot of hype…and hope.

Hall is the more experienced fighter of the two, so perhaps taking out the once-highly-touted prospect could help him ease the pain of his recent loss. For Shahbazyan, handing Hall his second straight loss would be a great way to remind fight fans why he was considered one of the better blue chip prospects in a while.

Objections?