Mir-Werdum, Hall-Lima Announced for Inaugural GFL Season

The Global Fight League (GFL) has begun to shed light on how its first event will shape up. So far, little is known, but here is what we do know: The event is scheduled to take place in April at a venue in Los Angeles. We also know the first two matchups on the card.

As we move closer April, there are still many questions. But, the next two matchups have been recently announced. Uriah Hall vs. Douglas Lima and Frank Mir vs. Fabricio Werdum has officially been signed. Both matchups are Team São Paulo vs. Team Los Angeles.

Uriah Hall vs. Douglas Lima

On one side of the octagon will be Team Los Angeles’ Uriah Hall (17-11). The former The Ultimate Fighter runner-up is a decorated striker and had a good run in the UFC. He will be squaring up against a former Bellator champion representing Team São Paulo, Douglas Lima (33-12). The Brazillian is a decorated grappler with power striking chops, so this should be a fun one.

Hall otherwise known as “Prime Time” enters this fight after having recently dabbled in boxing. He went 1-1 on the undercard of two of the recent Jake Paul boxing cards. He has generated lots of interest since, expanding his fanbase. While that is helpful, it is not necessary as the former 19-fight UFC veteran has fought at the highest level.

Uriah knocked out eight opponents in the UFC and 15 in total. The dangerous striker, now age 40, is looking to prove he still has more in the tank. He has not fought in MMA for three years, but his return is highly anticipated. Anytime Hall is standing in the cage, you know a knockout is possible. But in this matchup, nothing will come easy.

Hall’s opponent, Douglas Lima, 37, has had quite the career. The former two-time Bellator welterweight champion has fought everyone Bellator had to offer in the division. Additionally, he challenged for the middleweight title to try and become a two-division champion in 2020.

Throughout his 44-fight career spanning 19 years, Lima has a combined 26 finishes. A strong grappler, he pairs his grappling ability with extremely dangerous long-range weapons. With multiple finishes credited to his kicks, Lima is a threat at all times in a fight. He ended his Bellator career losing five of his last six fights, so he’ll be looking to bounce back in the GFL.

These two match up very well. At their age, it is hard to imagine one of them shooting for a takedown. This insinuates a stand-up affair, one that will satisfy the fans. They both have strong kicking games with a barrage of weapons from spinning techniques to calf kicks.

Frank Mir vs. Fabricio Werdum

This matchup, if made a decade ago, probably would have headlined a UFC PPV. At age 47 and 45 respectively, there is no sugarcoating it, these guys are old. But, age is just a number as the adage goes. These two former UFC champions are looking to turn back the clock.

Representing Team São Paulo, Werdum (24-9-1) is returning to MMA after four years. Two years ago he fought in Bare-Knuckle MMA losing to Junior Dos Santos. The former UFC heavyweight and interim heavyweight champion is a slick grappler with an affinity for the armbar.

With the UFC, Werdum went 12-6 with eight finishes. Before that, he had successful runs with Pride FC and Strikeforce going a combined 7-3. The black belt will return to the cage with the GFL against a fellow legend of the sport.

Frank Mir, 45, enters with a slight youth advantage. He potentially has more wear-and-tear on his body though, at this point. Despite taking 10 knockout losses in his career, the former heavyweight and interim heavyweight champion has had heaps of success. Having shared the cage with nearly all the competitors that Werdum has, it’s a surprise they have yet to fight.

Mir is a well-rounded fighter with five KOs, nine submissions, and four decisions. Since leaving the UFC, he fought the upper echelon of the Bellator heavyweight division. After that, he tested himself in boxing and a custom rules fight. This will be his first return to combat in four years.

There were questions around whether either of them could compete with the GFL, largely due to concerns about their age and health. However, facing each other is the perfect way to see two legends back in action.

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About Post Author

Jake Lippman

A native of Baltimore, Jake has always been a massive supporter of Baltimore sports. However, his passion took a new turn when he discovered MMA through ‘The Ultimate Fighter’. From there, his interest grew to encompass not only PPV events but, also the regional MMA scene and other forms of combat sports. With a focus on written work, Jake is eager to bring engaging, insightful, and thought-provoking content to The Scrap, covering regional MMA, Power Slap, and other Combat Sports conversations.

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