Many may remember Uriah Hall for his contributions to UFC concepts The Ultimate Fighter in 2013. In August, he announced his retirement following his loss to Andre Muniz at UFC 276 – and suffered a mental breakdown.
- After I left the sport, I fell into a deep hole.
I fell into a depression.
When you do something for that long, it becomes what you define yourself with.
People don't see that.
When you leave, you think "isn't there anything else for me to do?", says Uriah Hall to MMA Fighting.
- At one point I glanced at my weapon and stopped and thought, "wait, this could end badly if I don't get out of it".
Depression is real and people don't talk about it.
This is very important.
Took help from loved ones
He kept it to himself.
- I felt alone and didn't want to tell my friends so as not to appear like a coward.
I wanted to be a man and get out of it, because that's what society has taught you what to do.
So I sat on the couch for weeks not knowing what to do.
Hall talked to his loved ones.
At the same time, he has started training again.
A combination that contributed to him getting out of depression.
- I put my soul into this and suddenly it was gone.
I was in a deep, dark place, but fortunately I have good people around me to support me.
Now Hall, who made 19 fights in the UFC, is back in the world of sports.
This weekend he makes his boxing debut when he faces the American Le'Veon Bell.