Uriah Hall's Defining Knockout in UFC History

Uriah Hall is a Jamaican-American former professional mixed martial artist known for his explosive striking athleticism and long tenure in the UFC’s middleweight division. Born in Spanish Town, Jamaica, Hall moved to Queens, New York, at age 13, where he began martial arts training in Tiger Schulmann’s Karate to defend himself against severe bullying. Possessing elite dynamic kicking, lightning-fast reflexes, and terrifying power, Hall gained widespread recognition during Season 17 of The Ultimate Fighter in 2013. Throughout his combat sports career, he picked up marquee victories over legendary figures like Anderson Silva and Gegard Mousasi, earning a reputation as one of the most physically gifted stand-up strikers to step into the Octagon. The kick that permanently defined Hall’s career occurred during his preliminary bout on The Ultimate Fighter 17 against Adam Cella. Late in the first round, Hall unleashed a violent, frame-perfect spinning hook kick that caught Cella flush on the chin. The impact froze the room: Cella collapsed instantly and remained unconscious on the canvas for minutes while medical staff tended to him. UFC President Dana White hailed it as one of the nastiest knockouts in the history of the sport. Interestingly, Hall also holds a bizarre place in leg-kick history from his 2021 rematch with Chris Weidman: Hall became the first fighter in UFC history to win a bout without throwing a single strike after checking a leg kick from Weidman that snapped Weidman’s shin in the opening 17 seconds.