Ryan Hall (grappler)

In 2012, Hall began training in mixed martial arts at Tristar Gym in Montreal, Canada. He represented his new team for the first time in the cage at SLAMM-1 on November 30, 2012 in Montreal, Canada where he won by TKO in the first round.[17]

Hall fought on the Challenge MMA 2 card on August 17, 2013. He submitted Maged Hammo at the Montreal, Quebec event.[18]

Hall defeated Leo Perez via TKO at Fight Lab 35 in Charlotte, NC on February 8, 2014 and submitted Ryan Hogans via first round heel hook at the United Combat League on May 31 in Hammond, IN.[19]

On August 31, 2015, it was announced that Hall would be a contestant on the 22nd season of The Ultimate Fighter reality show, representing Team USA.[20]

In the opening elimination bout, Hall faced fellow American Johnny Nunez. He won the fight via heel hook early in the first round.[21]

Hall represented Team USA in the first preliminary fight of the season facing Sweden's Frantz Slioa. He once again won the fight via heel hook in the first round. He advanced to the quarter finals,[22] where he lost to Saul Rogers by majority decision.[23] Rogers advanced to the final, but a visa issue prevented him from fighting, instead allowing Hall to fight Artem Lobov in The Ultimate Fighter 22 Finale.[24] Hall defeated Lobov by unanimous decision to become the Ultimate Fighter 22 lightweight winner.[25]

Hall was expected to face Alex White on July 13, 2016 at UFC Fight Night 91.[26] However, the bout was scrapped on June 28 as White pulled out due to an undisclosed injury. In turn, Hall elected to fight on a different date rather than have the promotion find him a replacement.[27]

Hall next faced Gray Maynard on December 3, 2016 at The Ultimate Fighter 24 Finale.[28] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[29]

Hall faced B.J. Penn on December 29, 2018 at UFC 232.[30] He won the fight via a heel hook submission in the first round.[31] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.[32]

Hall faced Darren Elkins on July 13, 2019 at UFC on ESPN+ 13.[33] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[34]

Despite being a ranked fighter, Hall has made headlines due to his inability to find a fight, going long stretches between matches (with only four fights in over four years since signing with the UFC). He has been vocal about fighting anyone so long as he has been given preparation, but his management and the UFC has had difficulties finding him similarly or higher ranked opponents.[35] Two weeks later, the UFC official found an opponent for Hall.

Hall was scheduled to face Ricardo Lamas on May 2, 2020 at UFC Fight Night: Hermansson vs. Weidman.[36] However, on April 9, Dana White, the president of UFC announced that this event was postponed to a future date[37]

In 2011, a viral video of Hall surfaced showing Hall using grappling techniques to defend himself against a larger, aggressive man while dining in a pizza parlor. In the video, Hall demonstrates the use of a double leg takedown and the mount position. Later, he applies a chokehold to the man shortly before police arrive.[39][40]