Uriah Hall lands massive KO on 'The Ultimate Fighter'
Uriah Hall, from Queens, is a contestant on Season 17 of "The Ultimate Fighter." Credit: FX/Robert Zuckerman
Dana White is a fight promoter, and as such, some of the things he says must be viewed through the prism.
But the UFC president’s quote in last week’s promo clip of this Tuesday night’s episode of “The Ultimate Fighter” was far from promotional. There was no oversell here.
“One of the nastiest knockouts I’ve ever seen in the fight business, let alone on ‘The Ultimate Fighter,’” White said.
Uriah Hall, a 28-year-old MMA fighter from Queens, landed a spinning heel kick that instantly dropped Adam Cella and left him unconscious for several minutes.
"I have no idea what happened," Cella said to the doctor examining him after he came to again.
"You got knocked out," the doctor responded.
"I don't remember anything," Cella said.
Cella will have no trouble remembering that kick in the future. It will be talked about all season, in future seasons and replayed any and every time Hall fights.
"What happened, bro?" Cella asked Hall when the two embraced in the cage after the fight.
"You'll find out,” Hall said.
Hall’s kick, which came with five seconds left in the first round of their opening-round bout, caused those in the arena to explode with excitement, shock and awe at the powerful and instantaneous knockout. That soon turned to quiet concern for Cella, who was taken to the hospital for precautionary purposes.
"It's one of those ones you want to celebrate but you don't,” White said when he went to the locker room to congratulate Hall on the win. “I guess we know who's winning the $25,000 for knockout. You guys better start going for fight or submission.”
The UFC gives out bonuses at the end of the season for best knockout, best fight and best submission for the entire show.
Before Hall’s devastating knockout, he and Cella had an entertaining fight. Cella landed several big strikes, but Hall had the better of the striking by mixing in knees and pushkicks. Twice Hall knocked down Cella, albeit briefly each time, with kicks to the midsection.
