Ryan Hall Eyes Comeback with Plans for Two Final Fights Before Retirement

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - After more than four years away from the Octagon, renowned UFC submission expert Ryan Hall, known as “The Wizard,” is set to make a return to the sport. Hall's last appearance in the UFC was back in July 2019, and since then, he has been largely out of the public eye.

During a recent guest appearance on Matt Serra's podcast, Hall shared insights into his prolonged absence and his plans for a comeback. "It’s been a while, man," he admitted. "I hadn’t really trained in almost three years. I’m still good, but not sharp, if that makes sense. I’m working to get back to it." Hall has undergone a staggering 23 surgeries over the past three years, some of which were quite serious, leading to complications that required additional procedures.

Motivated by his desire to set a positive example for his seven-year-old son, Hall expressed his intentions to compete again. "I want to come back, win, lose, or draw, and show him something a little bit different," he said, noting he feels he has enough talent left for one or two high-level bouts. However, he acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding fight opportunities, remarking, "you never know where life will take you."

In his UFC career, Hall competed just six times but left an indelible mark, winning "The Ultimate Fighter" and becoming the first fighter to submit the legendary B.J. Penn. Despite his success, he has often cited a lack of opportunities, claiming that many fighters in his division avoided facing him. "The timing of the UFC was tough," he explained, recalling instances where opponents like Josh Emmett and Renato Moicano declined to fight him.

Hall's only loss in the UFC came at the hands of current Lightweight champion Ilia Topuria, who knocked him out in the first round. Since then, Hall has not fought and faces a vastly changed division. Nevertheless, with his sights set on a couple of final matchups, fans are eager to see how Hall will re-establish himself in the sport.