UFC 300, the coveted PPV of the promotion, is headlined by a light heavyweight title fight between Alex Pereira and Jamahal Hill. With a second-round knockout of Jiri Prochazka in the main event of UFC 295, Pereira claimed the title that Hill had vacated.
With the fight just around the corner, Hill is already looking ahead to the future. If he wins at UFC 300, he has a few names in mind for his next title defense. Jiri Prochazka, Aleksandar Rakic, Magomed Ankalaev, and Nikita Krylov are all potential challengers waiting in the wings. Who will Hill set his sights on?
Jamahal Hill picks two opponents for future title bout
The former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping recently conducted an interview with Jamahal Hill on his YouTube channel. One of the questions asked by Bisping was about his plans if he were victorious against Alex Pereira at UFC 300.
“I think if Jiri (Prochazka) goes out and knocks (Aleksandar) Rakic out in an impressive fashion, you know, has a good performance, that’s still a fight that I want”, replied Hill who went on to state that Prochazka did not get respect in his previous fight. Even though he was defeated by Pereira, many, including Hill, felt that referee Marc Goddard prematurely stopped the fight.
“If not him, Magomed’s (Ankalaev) there, he’s waiting, he’s there.” Hill named his second pick if Prochazka is unsuccessful against Rakic. Interestingly, Prochazka versus Rakic is the featured bout of the prelims of UFC 300. The victor of the bout would likely call out the winner of UFC 300.
Interestingly, Hill won the title after Prochazka had to vacate the title due to a shoulder injury. After Prochazka defeated Glover Teixeira in a comeback victory at UFC 275 to become the champion, the UFC planned to make a rematch at UFC 282.
However, after Prochazka’s injury, Teixeira refused to take on Ankalaev on short notice. Therefore, Ankalaev fought Jan Blachowicz, a former champion, for the vacant title at UFC 282 but the fight ended in a split draw, much to the dismay of Ankalaev and the UFC.
After the unfortunate decision, the UFC booked another vacant title fight between Teixeira and Hill in the main event of UFC 283. Hill won the fight via unanimous decision but had to vacate the title after an Achilles injury, as per MMA Fighting.
Jamahal Hill talks on preparation for Alex Pereira bout
Jamahal Hill was in training camp when he was interviewed by Michael Bisping for his ‘Believe You Me’ YouTube podcast. From Hill’s words, it appeared that his training camp was going very well.
“Training camp is going great, man. I’m locking in, I’m rounding into form, feeling great”, said Hill when Bisping asked about the training camp. The former champion also revealed that he was in Grand Rapids, Michigan, his hometown for the fight.
For the training camp, Hill has not added any high-profile training partners. In addition to his usual sparring partners, he revealed that he has added some local fighters from Michigan, with one of them being a good kickboxer.
“I’m not saying he’s (Alex Pereira) overrated, and I’m not saying that he’s not that good. I’m just saying I’m really just that good”, Hill replied to the rumors of his comments that Pereira is overrated by the MMA community.
Hill had already contacted Israel Adesanya, the greatest rival of Alex Pereira, before his fight against the Brazilian. Adesanya has fought Pereira four times across two different combat sports.
Pereira is 4-1 in his past 5 fights, with all four victories being against fighters who were, was, or became UFC champion. Hill does not believe that Pereira’s past 5 fights were against championship-caliber fighters
Hill did not think that Sean Strickland was a championship-caliber fighter when Pereira knocked him out at UFC 276. After the loss to Pereira, Strickland went on to become champion but lost the title to Dricus du Plessis at UFC 297.
Do you think Jamahal Hill will reclaim the light heavyweight title at UFC 300? Leave your thoughts below!
