Sherdog.com’s 2015 Upset of the Year

2. Uriah Hall vs. Gegard Mousasi
UFC Fight Night “Barnett vs. Nelson”
Saturday, Sept. 26
Saitama Super Arena | Saitama, Japan
Talent has never been in doubt with Uriah Hall, but his tendency to run hot and cold made him a significant underdog against onetime Dream and Strikeforce champion Gegard Mousasi.

The two-time Ring of Combat titleholder put away Mousasi with a jumping spinning back kick to the face, a flying knee and follow-up punches in the second round of their middleweight co-main event at UFC Fight Night “Barnett vs. Nelson” on Sept. 26 at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan. A replacement for the injured Roan Carneiro, Hall brought it to a rousing close 25 seconds into round two, the shock value off the charts.

Mousasi roared out of the gates in the first round. He executed a takedown inside 15 seconds, applied his ground-and-pound, achieved full mount twice and ultimately forced Hall to yield his back before hunting the rear-naked choke. No one could have foreseen what was ahead. At the start of round two, Hall drilled “The Dreamcatcher” with a jumping spinning back kick and flying knee, both of which landed flush. Mousasi collapsed, dazed, confused and unable to sufficiently defend himself. A series of follow-up punches necessitated the stoppage.

“For me, my karate background is all about timing,” Hall told UFC play-by-play announcer Jon Anik afterwards. “I knew he was going to try and shoot in, so if I spin or whatever, normally people duck or flinch; and when I watched him fight, that’s the only thing I see he would do. He would flinch every time I would throw something.

“I knew I lost the first round, so I had to time him and capitalize,” he added. “That’s what I did [with] my favorite kick -- the jump spinning back kick. Then I followed up with a flying knee. I mean, it’s pretty simple.”

It was simple and spectacular, and it marked the first time in Mousasi’s 45-fight career that he had been finished by strikes. He entered the bout as high as a -725 favorite.

“I love to do this,” Hall said. “I know I always overcome adversity. I know the world still looks at me as a nice guy, but let me tell you something: The best way to get the most out of me is to put me against the wall, and you’ll find out.”

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