MMAOB staff writer Adam Martin takes a deeper look at the main event of UFC Vegas 33, a five-round UFC middleweight bout between Sean Strickland and Uriah Hall. The event takes place on Saturday, July 31 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Sean Strickland (-200)
Strickland (23-3) is the No. 11 ranked middleweight in the UFC. The 30-year-old American has been a member of the UFC roster since 2014, and he has racked up a 10-3 record in the Octagon since then, including a perfect 3-0 mark at 185lbs since moving up to middleweight in 2020. Some of Strickland’s most notable wins include Krzystof Jotko, Brendan Allen, Tom Breese, and Court McGee. A professional MMA fighter since 2008, Strickland has put together a very solid career with 14 wins, including 10 wins by knockout. He has good wrestling but he typically prefers to stand and trade, and on the feet, Strickland is a technical striker with a lot of power. He also has great cardio and a more durable chin at 185, making him a serious contender in the UFC middleweight division.
Uriah Hall (+170)
Hall (17-9) is the No. 8 ranked middleweight in the UFC. The 36-year-old Jamaican has been in the UFC since 2013 and he has racked up a 10-7 overall record in the Octagon. Some of Hall’s most notable wins include Gegard Mousasi, Anderson Silva, Antonio Carlos Junior, and Thiago Santos, just to name a few. A knockout artist, Hall has won 13 of his career victories by TKO. When he’s at his best, he is one of the best middleweights in the world, but consistency has been a major issue throughout Hall’s career. Occasionally we see flashes of brilliance out of him but we often see him have letdown performances, which has led to a mediocre overall UFC record despite having some marquee wins on his resume. The four knockout losses that Hall has in his career are also a concern. That being said, Hall is still one of the most creative and flashy strikers in the sport, and if he can connect on Strickland’s chin, he can win the fight despite not being as well-rounded in MMA.
Fight Breakdown: This should be an intriguing fight between two of the top-15 ranked middleweights in the UFC. Both guys are on a roll right now with four straight wins each, so I think the winner will be in line to fight an elite contender in their next outing. This is an interesting fight because I think it will mostly be contested on the feet where Hall is always super dangerous, but at the same time, I love watching the way Strickland strikes on the feet. Although Strickland will be at a slight reach disadvantage in this fight, I think he can overcome it, and if this fight does wind up on the floor, Strickland is the superior grappler. With Strickland being six years younger and looking so dominant as a middleweight, I’m going to back him here as we ride the “Tarzan” train. It could either be a five-round decision or a knockout, but I expect Strickland to get his hand raised in this one.
Prediction: Sean Strickland
