Ryan Hall Ready To Show How He’s Improved At TUF 24 Finale

In an interview with MMA Junkie, Ryan Hall (5-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) spoke about how he’s improved since his last UFC fight. He will fight Gray Maynard (12-5-1 MMA, 10-5-1 UFC) at the TUF 24 Finale tonight from the Pearl at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas. Here are highlights:

On getting back to training during his hiatus: “I didn’t get to compete as much as maybe I would have liked, but I really tried to make my best use of the time off. It really wasn’t off, just back to training because that’s really all I do. I really feel this has been a great opportunity to make strides, and I’m a different fighter than I was in December, and I look forward to showing that. All I care about is just improving as best I can. Fighting is just an opportunity to stress test everything. Of course when you get the opportunity to do that it’s fantastic. I fought four times last year within the span of four months. That was a lot of fun. It is what it is. I would be happy whether I was competing or not.”

On why he agreed to fight Maynard: “I remember when I was called (for the fight), usually I send a text to my coaches and say, ‘Hey guys, what do you think?’ We skipped that this time and said, ‘Yup, I’ll take the fight.’. I didn’t get into this sport to fight bums. I got in to be in against the best because I did it in jiu-jitsu, and that’s how you learn, how you grow. And Gray represents a challenge in that. I’m excited to fight him. (He’s a) tough guy (with a) very distinguished career, and I looking forward for the chance to test myself against someone of that caliber.”

On his prediction for tonight: “You’ll see my best. I don’t focus on the outcome; I have the tools to beat anybody. But a fight is a fight, and the better fighter doesn’t win. The guy who fights better wins, and I look forward to doing my best to pull that off.”