Jamahal Hill is set to step away from competition following his recent defeat at UFC Baku. This marks the former light heavyweight champion`s third consecutive loss, extending the most challenging period of his professional career, which began in April 2024. Headlining the event in Azerbaijan against fellow contender Khalil Rountree, Hill was defeated via a lackluster decision.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Hill addressed the outcome of the fight, acknowledging that he hasn`t been performing at his peak and indicating that significant changes are necessary to regain his previous standing in the sport.
“I know there was a lot discussed before the fight, with my comments about Khalil not being on my level, similar to what I`ve said before my last few bouts,” Hill stated. “But truthfully, I haven`t been performing at my level. I haven`t been operating at my usual standard for quite some time now. I believe people greatly underestimate the severity of the injuries I`ve faced and the difficulties I`ve had to overcome because of them.”
“For an athlete, an Achilles tear can easily be a career-ending injury, and it has been in many cases for numerous individuals,” he continued. “Adding to that are the other injuries I`ve suffered, such as knee tears, which occurred when I tried to rush my return and force my way back into fighting shape as quickly as I did. I went against a lot of advice from my team and close contacts who urged me to take more time to properly recover and build back from my injuries. I feel this is something I cannot escape or explain away.”
The 34-year-old Hill captured the vacant UFC light heavyweight title at UFC 283 with a dominant performance against Glover Teixeira. However, he was forced to vacate the championship six months later after tearing his Achilles tendon during a pickup basketball game. In his first fight back at UFC 300, Hill suffered a knockout loss to champion Alex Pereira and has yet to secure a victory since that comeback bout.
Although Hill did not provide a specific timeline for his next fight, he indicated his intention to take time off to fully heal his injuries and implement changes to his training regimen.
“For the moment, I plan to take the necessary time to focus on my injuries, giving them the recovery period they need to regain strength and allow me to feel like myself again,” Hill explained. “I haven`t felt like myself for a considerable period. I haven`t been able to do the things I enjoy. I haven`t even run since the injury; there`s this feeling, perhaps, that I can`t, due to the lack of strength in my legs. That absolutely needs to change. I must increase the volume and intensity of my training and preparation. I`m currently competing against the world`s elite and at a championship level, and I need to live and prepare like a champion.”
“I`m going to take a break, some time off, to get back to the level I know I`m capable of reaching and return as the exciting, dominant fighter and champion I know myself to be,” he added.
When the judges` scorecards were read at the conclusion of his fight with Rountree, Hill appeared somewhat surprised. He later explained that he was particularly bothered by the two 50-45 scorecards, which he felt did not accurately reflect the competitiveness of the bout. He also seemed to exchange words with Rountree afterward concerning the fight`s slow pace, though the two seemingly resolved the disagreement without further issue.
Analyzing the contest, Hill was careful to ensure Rountree received credit for his performance.
“Congratulations to Khalil Rountree on his victory and entering the top 5,” Hill said. “He`s shown great hunger and has been working incredibly hard. He was aiming for another shot at the title, and now with this win, he`s in a position to achieve that. He had a strategy to target my legs, and he stuck strictly to his game plan.”
“The fight was less engaging than I would have preferred,” he continued. “I anticipated more offensive pressure and engagement from him; I thought we would really go after it and put on a more exciting fight, a better show or performance. However, the responsibility falls on me to go in there and make my opponents fight the kind of fight I want them to. That didn`t happen in this instance.”
