UFC 264: Ryan Hall says fighters avoiding him for two years is ‘unacceptable’
- ‘The Wizard’ insists he is the ‘most unique fighter’ in the featherweight division ahead of return against Ilia Topuria
- ‘I would take all the biggest challenges. I can’t say why people are avoiding it but I think the time of that, hopefully, is coming to an end,’ Hall says
Over the past two years Ryan Hall has become a cult hero and bogeyman rolled into one at 145 pounds – all without even fighting.
After multiple opponents failed to make it to the Octagon, some coronavirus-related postponements and injuries of his own, The Ultimate Fighter season 22 winner is finally back at UFC 264 this Saturday night in Las Vegas.
It will be his first outing since a July 2019 unanimous decision over Darren Elkins, and just his fourth fight since earning a UFC contract by beating Artem Lobov to win season 22 of The Ultimate Fighter in December 2015.
“I think that I’m by far the most unique fighter in the top 15, 20, whatever you want to say, just in terms of skill set approach,” Hall said at Wednesday’s media day regarding fighters avoiding him.
“I get where that’s coming from but from a sporting perspective, that’s unacceptable. I’m a martial artist. I would take all the biggest challenges and unique challenges. I can’t say why people are exactly avoiding it but I think the time of that, hopefully, is coming to an end.”
