Former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight champion, Jamahal Hill, is optimistic about his chances with the winner of the upcoming UFC 295 title fight between Jiri Prochazka and Alex Pereira. This comes despite suffering substantial setbacks, one of which includes vacating his title in the face of severe injury. Hill, known for his ferocious prowess in the ring, gave up his title after enduring a torn Achilles tendon while playing basketball in July. Interestingly, Hill was the second consecutive light heavyweight champion from UFC to release the claim to the title. Prochazka, his predecessor as champion, required shoulder surgery following his victory and also vacated his title.
Hill candidly admits that although he was inclined to keep his title until his return to the ring, circumstances dictated otherwise. He also challenged the perception that Prochazka vacated his title purely out of good will and benevolence as was widely publicized. Hill asserts that Prochazka was “heavily suggested” to step down from his championship reign, rather than being a self-initiated decision.
During an interview with MMA Fighting, Hill shared: “Originally when it happened, that was my first thought [to hold onto the title], but the thing is they had a deal already in place with Jiri. Jiri didn’t just vacate his title. It was heavily suggested [he should vacate]. There was a deal made where he would fight for it upon his return.” Showcasing his in-depth knowledge of UFC happenings, Hill suggests that retaining his title under such conditions would have been the right thing to do.
Delving into his future plans, Hill reveals that he is making considerable progress in his recovery journey, largely due to the efforts of the highly respected orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Neal ElAttrache. He expects to return to training shortly and is aiming for a victorious comeback in the second quarter of 2024. Hill promises to return to the Octagon soon, with the assurance of a title fight, champion purse, and pay-per-view shares. Regarding his recovery, he enthusiastically shared: “Recovery process has been good. It’s been a lot quicker than I thought it would be. I’ve been making good strides. I’m looking to hopefully hit that six-month mark to be back and looking toward getting booked. I was guaranteed when I come back, I will be given the title fight. [I will receive] the same champion purse and pay-per-view points.”