Ryan Hall Discusses His UFC 232 Win Over BJ Penn

UFC fighter Ryan Hall spoke to reporters in a media scrum (via MMAjunkie) after his submission win over BJ Penn at UFC 232. Below are some highlights from the scrum.

Hall on his win over Penn: “As a fan of his I can understand both perspectives. Obviously he’s a little bit older, but also the game has continued to evolve. It’s difficult, and evolve on his shoulders. It’s not as if people could get to where we are without the Fedor Emelianenko’s, without the B.J. Penn’s. I think it’s very important to remember that. But it’s also very tough if everyone’s gotten to watch you fight for 15 years, and also figure out what you’re up too, then on top of that copy a bunch of what you’re up too, to still be able to win generation after generation is very challenging. B.J. went through multiple generations of fighters and still has plenty left, but it’s just a matter of it he wants to do that. But I can also understand the perspective of people who say, ‘Hey, you’ve done enough already. Why take the risk? Why take the physical toll?’ But ultimately telling another person what to do with their life, I’m not very comfortable with that.”

Ryan Hall on not speaking to Penn after the fight: “At a time like that you don’t want to walk over there and I’m not trying to get – just be weird and get in someone’s face. At the same time I hope we cross paths at some point in the future and ask him a bunch of questions. But right after a fight no one likes the other person running over and Yoel Romero’ing them. No one likes that.”

Ryan Hall on his two-year layoff: “Honestly there’s a bunch of things. I’ve got stuff going on at home. I actually just had a little boy. You never know – the fight game is unpredictable. On ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ I fought four times in probably three months, which is probably a little much unless you’re Donald Cerrone, in which case carry on. It’s tough. Both people have to sign up and I’ve accepted a bunch of other fights and unfortunately people were a little bit hesitant to get involved. B.J.’s not afraid of anybody. It was pretty neat to get to compete against someone with his skillset.”

Hall on what’s next for him: “I want to fight the best people available, I want to fight someone in the top 10 or in the top 15. Definitely at featherweight. I weighed in for this at 154. I’m a featherweight. I would be nice to face someone in the top 10, top 15 at least. I don’t really care about the rankings, I just care about he challenge of the opponent.”