Paulo Costa stood toe-to-toe with the always dangerous Uriah Hall on Saturday, and came out with the second round TKO!
Earlier this year, Uriah Hall suffered a terrifying health scare, rushed to hospital during a weight cut gone wrong at UFC St. Louis. The incident saw Hall suffer a slight heart attack and mini-seizure. Valid questions about whether he could continue his career, or continue at middleweight, boiled to the surface. Yet at the UFC 226 weigh-ins, Hall was in a jovial mood and made weight, signaling his bout Saturday against Paulo Costa was a go.
Costa and Hall were active on the feet early at UFC 226. Costa was more than happy to stand with the dangerous ‘Prime Time,’ with both men trading leg kicks. A body kick by Paulo was countered with a right hand by Hall. Costa was loading up on his shots more, looking for a knockout blow. Hall’s jab, however, was far more effective. Then a right hand connected to the side of Hall’s head, proving the danger of Costa’s heavy hands. A low blow then connected on Hall, pausing the action.
Back underway, they went right back at it, Hall continuing to land the jab. Crowd roaring, you felt something big was to come, but it was Costa backing Hall up, unloading with shots to the body, then a kick to the body. Hall was under siege. Costa grabbed a Thai clinch and continued to attack the body. Surviving, Hall brought the action back out the middle, but he was still under fire. Another low blow was landed by Costa however, a glancing low punch. Despite the second infraction (not to mention a warning for having his fingers extended), Costa did not have a point deducted.
Costa had his own jab going in round two, and connected with a big right hand. Having perhaps seen enough Uriah Hall landed an explosive takedown, but Paulo Costa sprung right back up. Hall then landed and hurt Costa! Costa backed off, seemingly signaling injury, but the bout continued. Then Hall was tagged! Hall covered up, still standing, and Costa moved in. A number of strikes followed, and Uriah Hall went down! Having come back from the brink, Paulo Costa had the finish!
Paulo Costa def. Uriah Hall by TKO, Round 2, 2:38
