In a matchup initially reported by Heavy.com, a Texas-sized showdown has been signed for UFC Fight Night 24 as Temple, TX native Anthony “T.J.” Waldburger returns to the octagon to take on Dennis “Superman” Hallman. Scheduled to take place on March 26th at the Key Arena in Seattle, this event will have Waldburger in hostile territory as his opponent hails from nearby Yelm, WA.
A mainstay in the Pacific Northwest, Dennis Hallman attained a state championship wrestling career in his home state and still maintains a large presence in the area. Recently coming off two consecutive wins versus Ben Saunders and Karo Parisyan, the 35-year-old “Superman” looks to use the Texan, Waldburger, as a steppingstone in his run to resurrect a career highlighted by two victories over welterweight legend Matt Hughes. It is possible that a win at UFC Fight Night 24 could land the 60-fight veteran a top contender bout in the near future.
Stepping in against the hometown favorite, Texas’ own native son T.J. Waldburger has no plans of being used as a stepping stone by Dennis Hallman. Already an eighteen-fight veteran at the ripe old age of twenty-two, the Grappler’s Lair product earned this fight after besting David Mitchell in his debut at UFC Fight Night: Marquardt vs. Palhares. Astute fans may know these “Fight Night” events best as a breeding ground used by the UFC to cultivate up-and-coming talent. Waldburger will look to capitalize on that by notching his fifth win in a row as kryptonite to the older “Superman.”
In addition to this bout, UFC Fight Night 24 is rumored to be headlined by a lightweight bout featuring Antônio Rogério Nogueira taking on Tito Ortiz. Other unconfirmed bouts at this time include Dan Hardy versus Anthony Johnson, “Bruce Leeroy” Alex Caceres against Mackens Semerzier, and a highly-anticipated rematch featuring another Texan, Leonard Garcia, taking on ‘Ultimate Fighter’ vet Nam Phan.
