UFC on Versus 5: Jared Hamman Returns Leaner and Meaner After Year Off

Jared Hamman

After spending most of his career in the heavier weight classes, UFC fighter Jared Hamman has decided it was time to move to middleweight for his upcoming fight with C.B. Dollaway at UFC on Versus 5 on Sunday night in Milwaukee.

“I never had to cut weight at 205. I always just made weight no problem. So I did a preliminary cut in March and made it,” Hamman told MMAWeekly.com. “I simulated the way it would go at the UFC as far as weighing in at 4 p.m. and everything, and I felt great afterwards, so I decided to go for it.

“I hired a fantastic dietician, P.R. Cole from Fuel the Fighter, and it’s been relatively easy making the weight cut. I’ve never been in this good of shape going into a fight. I haven’t been this weight since I was in high school. With the right foods and recovery, everything feels phenomenal.”

Coming off his second loss in three UFC fights, Hamman was asked if he felt any additional pressure to defeat Dollaway.

“There’s always pressure of being cut from the UFC, but I’m going to go out and fight my butt off regardless of whether I’m on the verge of being cut or I’m doing fantastic or whatever,” he said.

It’s that work ethic that has earned Hamman “Fight of the Night” honors in his last two fights.

“I don’t go out and try to win ‘Fight of the Night,’ it’s just my mentality. I love to fight and go out there and give it all I’ve got,” he said. “I absolutely hate decisions. I feel like if the judge has to do his job, I haven’t done my job.”

Hamman expects another action-packed fight with Dollaway at UFC on Versus 5.

“The UFC has always done well in setting me up with guys that like to fight,” he said. “I think it’s the same thing with C.B. He loves to fight; he loves to bring it. He doesn’t sit around and lay and prey. He likes to battle. That gets me going, and I think it’s going to be a great fight for the fans to see.”

After having come back off of injury and in the best shape of his career, Hamman’s only goal is to stay busy and maximize the skills he developed in his time off.

“Having this year off has been good, because it gave me time to work on my game,” said Hamman. “I’ve been working on my boxing and kickboxing and getting my technique down and getting as good as possible.

“I would love to showcase those skills in my next fights and keep fighting my butt off.”

Have always been taught to give everything he’s got into anything he pursues, Hamman has taken the steps he feels is needed to become an even better fighter than he was before, ensuring that his return to the UFC on Sunday will be as successful as possible.

“I appreciate the fans’ support and sticking with me; even though I’ve been gone a year,” he said in closing. “Follow me on Twitter @JaredHammanMMA if you want. And I look forward to seeing everyone out there.”

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