"I seen some tape on him and I think he is a young, athletic and hungry guy. I think his biggest asset is his athleticism and that's what I'm prepared to deal with
my ground is better, I have better hands and better wrestling and then it will come down to who has better cardio
I can beat anybody on any given day. It doesn't matter if you are GSP, Matt Hughes or John Howard. No matter what, I am a threat from the first minute to the last minute of the fight," stated UFC welterweight Dennis Hallman as he talked about his return to the Octagon and his upcoming clash with John Howard this weekend at the TUF10 Finale. Check it out!
PC: How have you been Dennis?
DH: I have been great.
PC: Happy belated birthday.
DH: Thanks man. I appreciate it.
PC: Was it tough to train through the holidays and not be able to celebrate your birthday as well?
DH: (Laughing) No. Realistically, a birthday is just another day.
PC: It's great to have you back inside of the Octagon. What was the process like for you to make it back to the big show?
DH: You know, you just have to fight and win. That's usually the formula to get back in the show. I went 7-1 since my last fight in the organization, so that's the formula.
PC: Did your management contact them or vice versa?
DH: My manager has always been in contact with them, so it's kind of an open dialogue.
PC: I see where many fans thought you were being brought back to fight a trilogy with Matt Hughes. Did you originally think that was their plan for you?
DH: I just came back to fight, no matter who it was. There is not really a trilogy with me and Matt Hughes because usually, a trilogy involves both guys winning. I know a lot of people would want to watch me fight him for a third time, but I just came back to fight any of the fighters.
PC: How much have you seen of John Howard and what do you think of him as a fighter?
DH: I seen some tape on him and I think he is a young, athletic and hungry guy. I think his biggest asset is his athleticism and that's what I'm prepared to deal with.
PC: It has been awhile since you have fought in the UFC. Besides its popularity now, do you see any major changes?
DH: It's a lot more guys now and deeper competition and I think they run it a little bit differently, but that comes with their experience.
PC: What does it mean for you to be back inside the Octagon and have another shot on the big stage?
DH: It's great. It's where everybody that's in the sport wants to compete. I can't be any happier than I am right now.
PC: Frank Trigg and Phil Baroni both lost their return bouts in the UFC. What do you feel you have to do to avoid that fate against Howard?
DH: It is what I have already done and that's prepare properly. Phil is a great fighter, but he didn't prepare properly. With Frank Trigg, those kinds of things happen in fights. He didn't get a chance to get going. He got caught in the fight early. You can't look at that any other way than he got caught early. It wasn't like they fought 3 rounds and he got dominated or gassed out like Phil did.
PC: Obviously you have an edge in experience over Howard, but do you think anything else will play a factor in this fight on Saturday night?
DH: My ground is better, I have better hands and better wrestling and then it will come down to who has better cardio.
PC: Who are some of the people you have been working with on your comeback trail?
DH: I got a new boxing coach, Carlos Hernandez. He's helped Brad Blackburn get a 3-0 record in the UFC. I have been training with Brad Blackburn and Brad Schwartz, who is a 3-time world champion, and then all of the guys at Victory Athletics that I have been training with for the last few years; my guys that I built up. And I did a little bit of work with Mike Pierce, who has been recently successful in the UFC. And as always, I have been training with the Team Quest guys.
PC: For the newer followers of the sport that haven't had the opportunity to see you fight or who are just not familiar with you, what do you feel you bring to the table Dennis that they can expect to see on Saturday?
DH: What I bring to the table is I can beat anybody on any given day. It doesn't matter if you are GSP, Matt Hughes or John Howard. No matter what, I am a threat from the first minute to the last minute of the fight. That's what they can expect to see.
PC: I look forward to your fight Saturday. I wish you the best of luck. Is there anything you want to say in closing?
DH: I just want to thank MMA Agents.
[ Follow Percy Crawford on Twitter @MrLouis1ana ]