Hallman vs. Hughes 3? "Superman" Weighs In On Trilogy

Since the announcement of Dennis "Superman" Hallman's return to the UFC, fan speculation has immediately pointed to a third meeting between Hallman and Matt Hughes.

In their early careers, Hallman defeated Hughes twice, first at an Extreme Challenge show in 1998 and then at UFC 29 in 2000. The victories took a combined 38 seconds.

Until UFC 79 in December 2007, Hallman was the only man to hold two victories over Hughes, though he remains the fastest man to do so.

MMAInsider caught up with Hallman Wednesday afternoon to get the skinny.

MMAInsider: So you recently signed a new deal with the UFC. The world wants to know: is this a harbinger of Hallman/Hughes 3?

Hallman: I don't think it's a harbinger. I think it's a big possibility, if the fans want to see it. I'm not turning down any fights, so if they offer it, there it is.

MMAInsider: Is it something you'd like to do? How likely do you think it is to happen?

Hallman: It's something the fans have been asking for, and I'm sure deep down in Hughes' little heart, it's something he wants, so it's something I'm not going to turn down. I don't have anything to prove there, but I'm not going to turn it down. In my opinion, I would probably expect it. No one's said anything to me, that's not the reason why it was signed, but those are options. I'm sure if enough people ask for the fight, then usually Dana and those guys listen to the Underground says, so I'm assuming it's going to happen.

MMAInsider: How do you feel it would be the same or different than the other two times.

Hallman: I'm sure Hughes is probably going to run for the first thirty seconds at least, and it will be different after that because it will be longer than thirty seconds.

MMAInsider: So if Hughes makes it out of the first 30 seconds, we're good to go.

Hallman: Yep. It will be a good war. Those fights were eight years ago. It's completely different for both of us. The guy's a smarter fighter now, and so am I, so it would be a different kind of war.

Strikeforce Playboy Show on NBC

The hard-hitting middleweight (185 lb. limit) battle between Terry Martin (17-6) and Cory "The One" Devela (9-2) will highlight the premiere of Strikeforce's second affair at Hugh Hefner's world-famous Playboy Mansion on NBC tomorrow night.

The all-new "Strikeforce on NBC" episode will also include a feature segment on Martin, one of mixed martial arts' (MMA) most compelling stories. A former gang member, he survived five gun-shot wounds that nearly took his life at age 15 on the streets of his native Chicago, Illinois.

Martin has since earned a bachelor's degree from Northern Illinois University and pursued a dual career in professional boxing and MMA. At 28 years old, he is also a candidate for a master's degree in psychology.

Devela's appearance at the Playboy Mansion marked his second start for Strikeforce. During the promotion's debut in Tacoma, Washington on February 23rd, the 24-year-old protege of MMA superstar, Dennis "Superman" Hallman, stopped Joe "Diesel" Riggs with a hard throw in the first round that forced an incapacitated Riggs to verbally submit.

Following its production of the first-ever MMA event at the Playboy Mansion on September 29, 2007, Strikeforce returned to the Beverly Hills, California venue with a star-studded affair on September 20, 2008.

"Strikeforce on NBC," the first 52-week mixed martial arts series in network television history, airs every Saturday, immediately following NBC's hit poker tournament series, "Poker After Dark" (check local listings).