UFC
UFC on FX 5: Dennis Hallman explains that "personal issues" the cause of his removal from event
Oct 4, 2012 - 8:30:24 PM UFC on FX 5: Dennis Hallman explains that "personal issues" the cause of his removal from event

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

There was more than meets the eye to Dennis Hallman missing weight on Thursday, leading to the cancellation of his bout with Thiago Tavares on Friday's UFC on FX 5 card in Minneapolis. In an interview with MMAFighting.com, Hallman said personal issues were at the forefront of Thursday's weight problems.

"I'm having some personal issues at home," Hallman said. "I'm not fit to fight. I told Dana [White] what my issues were. He understands family matters, and he was cool with me not fighting."

Hallman said he passed out while in the middle of his weight cut, getting down to 158 lbs. prior to that. He was given fluids intravenously once he came to, which pushed him to seven pounds over the limit. He had agreed to give up part of his purse if he could get down to three pounds over the 156 lb. limit, something he actually managed to do, but Hallman claimed Tavares then wanted him to get to 158 lbs. instead.

When he couldn't cut any further, he approached UFC President Dana White to explain the personal issues. He wouldn't divulge further what they were, but White was sympathetic to his comments, and both fighters received their "show" money for the event.

Penick's Analysis: It appears this wasn't just a situation of a fighter being unprofessional and missing weight, and because of that Hallman is likely going to get a little leeway from the UFC. Whatever he's dealing with at the moment, hopefully it's something he can bounce back from. It's ultimately a good thing for him that he's not fighting tomorrow, because if it was something bothering him mentally, that's not a state in which to step in the cage. He recognized that, told White he wasn't fit to fight, and will be rescheduled for a future fight card when he's hopefully got these issues figured out.