Jamahal Hill, the former UFC light heavyweight champion, has been forced to withdraw from his upcoming fight at UFC 303 due to multiple knee injuries, extending his comeback timeline after a series of setbacks including an Achilles’ tendon tear and a recent knockout loss.
Jamahal Hill’s comeback season is going to have to wait a little longer.
The former UFC light heavyweight champion was set to make a quick turnaround. He was scheduled for a co-main event against Carlos Ulberg at UFC 303 on June 29. But with just two weeks to go, Hill was forced off the card due to injury. Recent training partner Anthony Smith stepped in to replace him.
Afterward, Hill revealed the extent of his injuries. They were severe enough to make him drop off the card that ends International Fight Week for UFC.
“Two tears in my meniscus, sprained my ACL, a Baker Cyst that leaked fluid in the back of my knee and a infusion in some joints!” Hill wrote on Instagram. “There were actually three of these. This is only making me hungrier. Be back soon!”
It’s unknown if the meniscus tears in Hill’s knee could potentially require surgery. Based on his message, he may avoid going under the knife for this particular injury. Meniscus tears are judged by the grade of the injury. Many less severe tears typically need rest and rehabilitation rather than surgery.
Hill’s manager, Brian Butler from Suckerpunch Entertainment, did not respond to messages from MMA Fighting for comment regarding the severity of his injuries.
Regardless, Hill won’t be fighting June 29. That effectively caps off a tumultuous past year for the 33-year-old light heavyweight.
After winning the 205-pound title with a win over Glover Teixeira at UFC 283, Hill was on a collision course with former champion Jiri Prochazka. Then he tore his Achilles’ tendon playing a pickup game of basketball with other fighters during International Fight Week 2023.
He ultimately relinquished his title while recovering from surgery to repair the Achilles’ tendon.
Hill returned sooner than expected. He served as one half of the main event for the historic UFC 300 card, but his night ended early when Pereira knocked him out in the first round.
Now Hill misses out on fighting at UFC 303. No exact timeline is set yet for when he’ll be able to compete again.