Dennis Hallman

Background

Hallman was born in Olympia, Washington, and began training when he was eight years old. He was on the Wrestling team at Yelm High School and won the 135-pound state championship in his senior year. Hallman had planned to continue his career at a community college, but broke his leg during the pre-season training, and had to be sidelined for the entire season. A former high school classmate was sending in video tapes to Battlecade and invited Hallman to fight him because Hallman was a well-known wrestler. Hallman won the fight by a guillotine choke, and his opponent's praise of Hallman's potential encouraged Hallman to pursue a career in MMA. Hallman had an exhibition match three weeks later against a Japanese fighter who was training with Matt Hume, which Hallman also won.

MMA career

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Two of Hallman's biggest achievements are his wins (both by submission in a combined 38 seconds) over UFC Hall of Famer and former welterweight champion Matt Hughes. Their first fight was in 1998 at Extreme Challenge 21, the second in December 2000 at UFC 29: Defense of the Belts.

Title shot

After his second victory over Matt Hughes, Hallman moved down in weight and fought Hughes' teammate Jens Pulver for the lightweight UFC championship in September 2001. Both Hallman and Pulver wrestled at the high school level in Washington. Hallman claimed to know Pulver since high school and expressed dislike toward the fighter. Although Pulver denied knowing Hallman personally, he knew of Hallman through their state champion wrestling careers (at different weight classes).

During the fight Hallman attempted an armbar on Pulver (the same move he used to defeat Hughes in their second meeting), but Pulver countered the technique and followed with a left hook that landed flush on Hallman's chin, staggering him. Hallman was not able to recover completely from the blow, fighting very passively for the remainder of the bout (which eventually resulted in a unanimous decision loss). Hallman later stated in interviews that he simply wanted to survive the fight after receiving the blow.

Return to the UFC

Hallman made his return to the UFC against John Howard on December 5, 2009, at The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale. After controlling Howard on the ground for most of the bout, Hallman lost via KO at 4:55 of the third round.

Hallman then announced that he would try and move down to lightweight.

Hallman then signed to face Ben Saunders in a welterweight bout on August 7, 2010, at UFC 117. Hallman defeated Saunders via unanimous decision.

Hallman faced returning UFC veteran Karo Parisyan on November 20, 2010, at UFC 123. Hallman defeated Parisyan via TKO due to strikes in the first round after he dropped Parisyan with a stiff right, then finished with hammerfists.

Hallman was expected to face TJ Waldburger on March 26, 2011, at UFC Fight Night 24. However, Hallman was forced out of the bout with a knee injury and replaced by Johny Hendricks.

On January 15, 2011, it was announced that Hallman has extended his UFC contract for four additional UFC fights.

Hallman faced Brian Ebersole on August 6, 2011, at UFC 133. He lost the fight via TKO in the first round. Wearing particularly skimpy blue shorts during the fight, in a ground battle Hallman's left testicle was briefly exposed, eliciting chants of "Put some clothes on" from the crowd and call for regulation of fighter shorts from UFC President Dana White. Hallman has since stated that he wore the shorts as a result of losing a bet.

Hallman next faced John Makdessi on December 10, 2011, at UFC 140. In the lead up to the bout, Hallman missed the 156 pound weight limit by weighing in at 158.5, resulting in a fine and the fight being changed to a catchweight bout. Hallman defeated Makdessi via submission in the first round.

Hallman was expected to face Tony Ferguson on May 5, 2012, at UFC on Fox 3. However, Hallman was forced out of the bout with an injury and replaced by Thiago Tavares.

Hallman was expected to face Thiago Tavares on September 1, 2012, at UFC 151. However, after UFC 151 was cancelled, Hallman/Tavares was rescheduled to take place on October 5, 2012, at UFC on FX 5. After the weigh-ins of UFC on FX 5 Hallman was 7 lbs. over the 156 lb. weight limit and Tavares said if Hallman could make 3 lbs. over the weight limit he would agree to fight him but Hallman could not and the bout was scrapped from the card. Hallman said he missed weight because of personal issues at home and both him and Tavares were paid their show money. Hallman was released from the UFC for missing weight twice in a row.

World Series Of Fighting

Hallman fought Jon Fitch on July 5, 2014, at World Series of Fighting 11: Gaethje vs. Newell. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

ProFC

Hallman faced with Russian Hand-to-hand champion and former Bellator MMA fighter Michail Tsarev on November 1, 2014. He lost the fight via TKO.

League S-70

Hallman faced to Mikhail Kolobegov on August 29, 2015, at League S-70: Russia vs. World. He lost the fight via TKO (punches).

Boxing career

Hallman made his professional boxing debut on August 23, 2014, in Tacoma, Washington, at the Emerald Queen Casino on the Battle at the Boat 97 card. As of May 2020, his professional boxing record stands at 1–3.

Personal life

Hallman has three sons, Ryley, Richie, and Jayden and a daughter named Kylar, who was born in December 2008.

He has Celiac Disease, an autoimmune digestive reaction to gluten, which hindered his ability to recover properly from physical activities such as training and fighting.

Mixed martial arts

• Ultimate Fighting Championship
  • UFC Encyclopedia Awards
    • Submission of the Night (One time) vs. Matt Hughes

Mixed martial arts record

| ko-wins= 4 | ko-losses= 11 | sub-wins= 41 | sub-losses= | dec-wins= 7 | dec-losses= 9 | dq-wins= 1 | dq-losses= | other-wins=

| | Worley, Idaho, United States

| | Sochi, Russia | |- | Loss | Albert Tadevosyan | TKO (punches) | MMA Summer Showdown 2 | | Tulalip, Washington, United States

| | Seoul, South Korea

| | Kaliningrad, Russia | |- | Loss | Jon Fitch | Decision (unanimous) | WSOF 11 | | Daytona Beach, Florida, United States | |- | Win | Aleksey Shapovalov | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Union of Veterans of Sport: Cup of Champions | | Novosibirsk, Russia

| | Kansas City, Missouri, United States

| | Toronto, Ontario, Canada

| | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States | |- | Win | Karo Parisyan | TKO (punches) | UFC 123 | | Auburn Hills, Michigan, United States | |- | Win | Ben Saunders | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 117 | | Oakland, California, United States | |- | Loss | John Howard | KO (punches) | The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights Finale | | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

| | Kent, Washington, United States

| | Pensacola, Florida, United States | |- | Win | Jeremiah Metcalf | Submission (heel hook) | Strikeforce: Four Men Enter, One Man Survives | | San Jose, California, United States

| | Fairbanks, Alaska, United States | |- | Win | Jeff Quinlan | Decision (majority) | IFL: Gracie vs. Miletich | | Moline, Illinois, United States | |- | Loss | Ryan McGivern | Decision (unanimous) | IFL: Championship 2006 | | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |- | Win | Delson Heleno | DQ (illegal kick) | IFL: Legends Championship 2006 | | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States

| | Brooks, California, United States | |- | Loss | Jorge Rivera | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 55 | | Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | |- | Win | Nick Tyree | Submission (guillotine choke) | Valor Fighting: Medford Mayhem | | Medford, Oregon, United States | |- | Loss | Ansar Chalangov | TKO (corner stoppage) | Euphoria: USA vs. Russia | | Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States

| | Tacoma, Washington, United States | |- | Win | Rory Singer | Submission (rear-naked choke) | AFC 11: Absolute Fighting Championships 11 | | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States

| | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |- | Win | Landon Showalter | Submission (triangle choke) | SF 7: Frightnight | | Gresham, Oregon, United States | |- | Win | Mike Seal | Submission (rear-naked choke) | SF 6: Battleground in Reno | | Reno, Nevada, United States | |- | Loss | Frank Trigg | TKO (punches) | UFC 48 | | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |- | Win | Rob Mendez | Submission (rear-naked choke) | USA MMA: Extreme Cage Combat | | Shelton, Washington, United States | |- | Win | Jason Stumpf | Submission (triangle choke) | URC 7: Ultimate Ring Challenge 7 | | Yelm, Washington, United States | |- | Draw | J.T. Taylor | Draw | DB 9: DesertBrawl 9 | | Bend, Oregon, United States | |- | Win | Ray Cooper | Submission (guillotine choke) | Rumble on the Rock 4 | | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | |- | Loss | Drew Fickett | Decision (split) | KOTC 28: More Punishment | | Reno, Nevada, United States

| | Kalispell, Montana, United States | |- | Win | Chris Irvine | Submission (rear-naked choke) | URC 5: Ultimate Ring Challenge 5 | | Lacey, Washington, United States | |- | Win | Lee Henderson | TKO (punches) | XRW: Xtreme Ring Wars 2 | | Pasco, Washington, United States | |- | Win | Vince Guzman | Submission (rear-naked choke) | XRW: Xtreme Ring Wars 1 | | Wenatchee, Washington, United States | |- | Draw | Ronald Jhun | Draw | KOTC 19: Street Fighter | | San Jacinto, California, United States | |- | Loss | Frank Trigg | TKO (punches) | WFA 3: Level 3 | | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

| | Reno, Nevada, United States

| | Rochester, Washington, United States | |- | Win | Gary Dobbins | Submission (rear-naked choke) | PPKA: Road to Victory | | Longview, Washington, United States | |- | Win | Chris Silva | Submission (armbar) | URC 2: Ultimate Ring Challenge 2 | | Olympia, Washington, United States | |- | NC | Denis Kang | No Contest | WFF 1: World Freestyle Fighting 1 | | Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada

| | Cabazon, California, United States | |- | Win | Mathias Hughes | Submission (rear-naked choke) | MFC 3: Canadian Pride | | Grande Prairie, Alberta | |- | Loss | Amaury Bitetti | Decision (split) | Shogun 1: Shogun 1 | | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States

| | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

| | Auburn, Washington, United States | |- | Win | Dan Shenk | Submission (rear-naked choke) | AMC: Revenge of the Warriors | | Rochester, Washington, United States | |- | Win | Eric Dahlberg | KO (punch) | RITR 2: Rumble in the Ring 2 | | Auburn, Washington, United States | |- | Win | Brent Russell | Submission (americana) | AMC: Return of the Gladiators 3 | | Rochester, Washington, United States | |- | Win | Matt Hughes | Submission (armbar) | UFC 29 | | Tokyo, Japan

| | Yelm, Washington, United States | |- | Win | Jeff Sears | Submission (rear-naked choke) | PPKA: Wenatchee Rumble | | Wenatchee, Washington, United States | |- | Win | Murrey Sholtey | TKO (punches) | AMC: Return of the Gladiators 1 | | Rochester, Washington, United States | |- | Loss | Paul Rodriguez | KO (punch) | HOOKnSHOOT: Meltdown | | Evansville, Indiana, United States | |- | Loss | Caol Uno | Decision (unanimous) | Shooto: R.E.A.D. 3 | | Osaka, Japan

| | Bellevue, Washington, United States | |- | Loss | Dave Menne | Decision (unanimous) | Shooto: 10th Anniversary Event | | Yokohama, Japan | |- | Win | Danny Bennett | Submission (americana) | UFCF: Battle in Bellevue 1 | | Bellevue, Washington, United States | |- | Loss | Mike McClure | Decision (unanimous) | EC 23: Extreme Challenge 23 | | Indianapolis, Indiana, United States | |- | Win | Gerrald Ballinger | Submission (armbar) | URC 1: Ultimate Ring Challenge 1 | | Wenatchee, Washington, United States | |- | Win | Matt Hughes | Technical Submission (guillotine choke) | |- | Win | Shannon Ritch | Submission (punches) | |- | Win | Allan Mollring | Submission (armbar) | |- | Win | Phil Johns | Submission (guillotine choke) | EC 20: Extreme Challenge 20 | | Davenport, Iowa, United States | |- | Win | Leigh Remedios | Submission (kimura) | UWC: Ultimate Warrior Challenge | | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada | |- | Win | Ulan Moore | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFCF: Night of Champions | | Washington | |- | Win | Sean Haley | Submission (bulldog choke) | EC 21: Extreme Challenge 21 | | Washington | |- | Win | Jose De La Cruz | Submission (americana) | TS: Tae Sho | | Tacoma, Washington, United States | |- | Win | Zack Gross | Decision (unanimous) | UFCF: Clash of the Titans | | Washington | |- | Win | Hiroki Noritsugi | Decision (unanimous) | |- | Win | Hiroki Noritsugi | Submission (guillotine choke) |

Professional boxing record

|ko-wins= |ko-losses=2 |dec-wins= |dec-losses=1 |dq-wins=1 |dq-losses=

References

References

1. [https://www.instagram.com/p/dTXV_cFDq0/ Dennis Halmann promoted BJJ Black Belt tonight !]
2. "Dennis Hallman".
3. ""Superman" vs. "Doomsday" shifted to The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale in December". mmajunkie.com.
4. ""Superman" vs. "Doomsday" shifted to The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale in December". mmajunkie.com.
5. Steven Marrocco. "Longtime veteran Dennis Hallman back to lightweight after nine years as welterweight". mmajunkie.
6. "Dennis Hallman faces Ben Saunders at UFC 117". mmajunkie.com.
7. "Karo Parisyan Welcomed Back to UFC, Offered Dennis Hallman at UFC 123". mmafighting.com.
8. "Dennis Hallman meets T.J. Waldburger at UFC Fight Night 24 in Seattle". mmajunkie.com.
9. "Hendricks replaces Hallman, faces Waldburger at UFC Fight Night 24". MMAJunkie.com.
10. "Dennis Hallman re-ups for four additional UFC fights". MMAjunkie.
11. "Brian Ebersole and Dennis Hallman to meet at August's UFC 133 event". MMAJunkie.com.
12. "Following Hallman's UFC 133 banana hammock, White serious about short-shorts ban". MMAJunkie.com.
13. (2011-09-09). "Dennis Hallman and John Makdessi agree to UFC 140 matchup in Toronto". MMAJunkie.com.
14. Becker, Dana. "Tony Ferguson-Dennis Hallman Planned For UFC On FOX 3". fightline.com.
15. (March 16, 2012). "Tavares replaces injured Hallman, faces Ferguson at UFC on Fox 3". mmajunkie.com.
16. (July 12, 2012). "Dennis Hallman vs. Thiago Tavares moves from UFC 150 to UFC 151". mmajunkie.com.
17. (August 23, 2012). "Dennis Hallman-Thiago Tavares fight moves from scrapped UFC 151 to UFC on FX 5". mmajunkie.com.
18. Ariel Helwani. (October 4, 2012). "Dennis Hallman Cut From UFC After Missing Weight for Friday Event". mmafighting.com.
19. (2014-06-12). "Dennis Hallman steps in to fight Jon Fitch in WSOF 11 co-headliner". mmajunkie.com.
20. (August 20, 2015). "Russian super star vs. world". news.sportbox.ru.
21. (August 29, 2015). "Russian super star vs. world". euronews.com.
22. "BoxRec: Login".
23. (2008-12-16). "Talking with Superman: an exclusive PRO MMA interview with Dennis Hallman". Promma.com.
24. (2010-08-03). "'BACK'S TO THE WALL' FOR HALLMAN AT UFC 117". MMAWEEKLY.com.
25. Gerbasi, Thomas. (2011-10-17). "UFC Encyclopedia - The Definitive Guide to the Ultimate Fighting Championship". DK.
26. American Top Team Staff. (May 14, 2005). "Euphoria MFC Results". AmericanTopTeam.com.
27. "American Top Team, Mixed Martial Arts and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu News".