Some moments are etched in memory forever in the mixed martial arts. One such moment occurred at UFC 261 between Uriah Hall and Chris Weidman. Hall recently shared his recollection of that fateful night. It’s a story that might make even the veteran fighters wince, but it’s too compelling to ignore.
The fight between the two was a rematch. It lasted a mere 17 seconds, but those seconds changed both fighters’ lives dramatically. Hall recently revealed on the JAXXON podcast that he had a premonition before the fight. He acted on that, and it yielded the result that he had expected.
This motherf**ker got skinnier…I was like, ‘You know what? I’m pretty sure if I kick him hard enough, I’ll break his leg’…I remember saying that…Just keep an eye out for that kick…I knew he was gonna kick and I was bracing the counter and by the time before I counter, the sh*t just wrapped around my leg.
Uriah Hall via JAXXON podcast
It’s not often a fighter predicts such a specific and gruesome outcome. Talk about a self-fulfilling prophecy. Hall talked about watching how Weidman started each fight. He revealed that Weidman would move back and throw a leg kick each time. This is when he countered, and one of the worst injuries in MMA took place.
😣🦵Uriah Hall breaks down the moment when Chris Weidman broke his leg in their fight.
“I was watching two or three of his last fights and he did the same thing every fight. Touch gloves, move, kick. So I was like, oh, here’s the pattern… So I was like, I will keep my eye on… pic.twitter.com/lS3FoLXb97
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) July 7, 2024
Weidman’s leg snapped upon impact with Hall’s shin. The injury was so severe that Weidman couldn’t continue, and the fight was over before it really began. Weidman was out of the Octagon for more than two years. A similar injury occurred when Weidman fought Anderson Silva, where Silva’s leg snapped. This wasn’t the first time they had met in combat, though, and their first encounter was a different tale.
Uriah Hall reveals his mistake going into the first fight against Chris Weidman
The saga of Uriah Hall and Chris Weidman transcends the bounds of the UFC. Recently, Hall took a trip down memory lane, recalling their first encounter. It wasn’t in the glitzy UFC octagon but in the promotion called Ring of Combat.
Uriah Hall and Chris Weidman face-off (via MMA Fighting)This blast from the past gives us a glimpse into the early days. Hall’s recollection of that fight is both honest and humbling. It’s a reminder that even the best have their “oops” moments. He remembered being mentally psyched out by someone constantly praising Weidman’s wrestling.
My hands were down cause I was looking for it [Weidman’s takedowns], forgetting my attributes and he clipped me. I was knocked out, he was on top of me, and the fight would end.
Uriah Hall via JAXXON Podcast
Hall admitted that he was so focused on Weidman’s takedowns that he forgot his own strengths. Hall is known for his exquisite striking and flashy knockouts. This early defeat, however, didn’t define Hall’s career. If anything, it fueled his drive to improve. Both these men moved on to the pinnacle of MMA, the UFC. The story of their first fight starkly contrasts their later UFC encounter.
