Jamahal Hill is focused on recovering from his injury and securing a rematch against Alex Pereira, emphasizing that he has no issues accepting his previous loss but wants to clarify what happened during the fight.
Jamahal Hill’s priorities right now? Recovering from the injury that kept him from fighting at UFC 303. Then, doing everything possible to land a rematch against Alex Pereira.
Ahead of Saturday’s event, where Hill was originally scheduled to face Carlos Ulberg before a knee injury took him out, the former UFC light heavyweight champion posted a lengthy video. He responded to a breakdown from Demetrious Johnson regarding his loss to Pereira at UFC 300.
Hill also offered his insights on several different angles from the fight. He explained why he believes he was actually doing everything right up until Pereira blasted him with a punch that put him down and out just minutes into the bout.
Hill promised it’d be the final time he’ll address the fight. “I’m literally only saying this to say what happened,” Hill said on his YouTube channel.
“To point out from my point of view what happened and what it is,” he continued. “The fact of this, ‘Oh, he can’t accept the loss, he needs to cope’ — the hardest thing I ever had to eat in this game was whenever I lost my ‘0’ to Paul Craig.”
“When I was sitting there and I was locked up in the submission and I could not use my arm, I’m like, ‘Oh shit, I’m about to lose.’” Hill vividly remembers that feeling. It was a very hard thing for him.
“I went out and partied with this man that night,” Hill added. “I enjoyed life after that with that individual.”
“Me taking a loss is not a problem for me at all,” Hill emphasized. “I’m simply saying what happened.”
A big part of the breakdown centered around the final sequence. Hill threw a kick that clipped Pereira low.
This caused referee Herb Dean to step forward potentially pausing the fight for a foul. But Pereira waved him off.
A moment later, Pereira connected with the punch that put Hill down for good. “I’m not mad at him for being a gritty competitor,” Hill said of Pereira.
“Granted, it sucks being on the shitty end of it,” he admitted. “But he did what he had to do.”
“He pushed his brand further,” Hill acknowledged. “He kept the belt where it’s at and all those things.”
“It’s kudos to him,” Hill concluded.
As far as what comes next? Hill needs to get healthy again first and foremost.
But he’s keeping an eye on UFC 303’s main event when Pereira faces Jiri Prochazka for their second time. Pereira knocked out Prochazka in their first encounter back in 2023.
Now Pereira seeks two wins in a row after stepping up on short notice due to Conor McGregor’s withdrawal against Michael Chandler.
Hill doesn’t seem too concerned about who wins or loses or even about the title itself but promises there’s unfinished business with Pereira regardless.
“Best of luck in your fight with Jiri,” Hill said addressing Pereira directly. “Because if you lose? I don’t give a f*ck if they offer me a title shot — it’s me and you.”
“You win?” He continued passionately, “I’m going to go starch the next guy and I’ll see you soon.”
“You lose?” He finished emphatically, “I’ll see you real soon.”
No word yet on how long Hill will be sidelined with his injuries though.