Former UFC middleweight champion Luke Rockhold is leaning towards Jamahal Hill in his upcoming fight against Jiri Prochazka at UFC 311, citing Hill’s dangerous power and recent performances despite both fighters coming off losses to Alex Pereira.
Luke Rockhold, the former UFC middleweight champ, seems to be siding with Jamahal Hill in the upcoming clash of former light heavyweight titleholders.
Hill is set to face Jiri Prochazka at UFC 311 in Los Angeles on January 18. Both fighters are eager to rebound from knockout losses to Alex Pereira, the current 205-pound kingpin. Rockhold thinks Prochazka’s mental approach might benefit Hill in this crucial matchup.
“That’s a very tough fight, man,” Rockhold mentioned on the JAXXON Podcast. “You just don’t know where Jiri’s head is at. Both guys are coming off rough losses to Pereira. Jiri’s had two bad losses in his last three fights. At UFC 303, he didn’t look like himself. He knew what he needed to do but fought blindly.”
“I didn’t like how Jiri fought against Pereira last time,” Rockhold continued. “He just didn’t seem to follow the game plan. Like, what were you doing?”
Hill faced Pereira at the iconic UFC 300 and experienced one of the year’s most unforgettable knockouts while trying to reclaim the title. “Sweet Dreams” was supposed to fight Khalil Rountree and then Carlos Ulberg at UFC 303, but an injury sidelined him.
Prochazka, as he told MMA Fighting, is taking this bout with Hill very seriously, embracing his identity as a fighter and person. Despite Hill’s trash talk, Prochazka is all business and plans to let his actions speak louder than words.
Even with Prochazka’s apparent renewed focus heading into 2025, Rockhold still leans toward his opponent.
“Jamahal Hill’s more dangerous,” Rockhold stated. “He’s got pop, power; he goes for the kill. Jamahal’s weirdly athletic sometimes—hard to take down. You saw it in the Glover Teixeira fight; he managed to get up and funk his way through things.”
“And he finds his shot, that kill shot. But as I said, it’s a rebuilding process for both of them, so who knows? Yet I might favor Jamahal here.”
“I’m leaning on Jamahal from what I’ve seen lately,” Rockhold concluded.