Jamahal Hill has opened up on the controversial debate surrounding the low blow that would directly lead to his TKO loss to Alex Pereira at UFC 300.
As the MMA community argues about whether Herb Dean should have separated Alex Pereira and Jamahal Hill more after a kick landed below the belt line, ‘Sweet Dreams’ has finally come out to give his side of the story – and it’s not going to please fans of ‘Poatan’.
Pundits argue over ‘low blow’ leading to Pereira’s finishing sequence
In the aftermath of UFC 300 and Alex Pereira’s defense of his light heavyweight title, a rather unusual conversation began to take shape with some pundits arguing that the referee ‘made a mistake’ in the finishing sequence.
The finish occurred early in the opening round after Hill landed a low blow on Pereira before the Brazilian waved away Herb Dean as he tried to step in, only to land a vicious punch seconds later to send Hill crashing to the canvas.
Whilst many within the MMA community continue arguing on social media that Herb Dean made a critical error in not separating the two fighters after the low blow, Jamahal Hill himself has offered his take on the sequence – and it’s not going down well with fans online.
Jamahal Hill breaks silence on UFC 300 loss to Alex Pereira
Speaking via his official YouTube channel, Jamahal Hill fanned the flames as he suggested that the aforementioned kick actually landed on the hip of ‘Poatan’ and that the replays only “appeared” to show a low shot:
“I’ve seen some of the controversy, people speaking on the stoppage and things like that with Herb [Dean] after I kicked Alex in the hip, and it appeared to be a low blow…I’m just going to say it’s ‘protect yourself at all times.’”
‘Sweet Dreams’ instead argued that “My feelings on it honestly don’t matter,” claiming that much of the backlash he’s seen online has been “just for the simple fact that a lot of people didn’t like how I sold the fight, they didn’t like the build-up or me personally.”
“I just take it as a lesson learned and just grow from there, understand that it’s ‘protect yourself at all times’, pay attention and stay focused at all times – even through commands and gamesmanship.”
The former light heavyweight champion also stated that he “took no damage” from the fight and that despite the violent ending to the contest, he remained conscious and coherent throughout the finishing sequence:
“I took no damage, most of the fall was just me falling down – I remember everything, I remember looking up seeing his legs and trying to block, reach for the underhook… He was able to land some shots and throw my equilibrium off on the other side, but I was coherent the whole time.”
Hill eyes quick return to win column with next fight already signed
Hill’s breakdown of the controversial stoppage comes several days removed from his UFC 300 main event, yet only a few hours removed from his next fight contract already being signed.
As confirmed by the UFC, Hill will return to the octagon in just a few months’ time to face Khalil Rountree Jr at UFC 303 in June; the same PPV that will feature the long-awaited return of Conor McGregor.
“He’s a good fighter, he’s on the hottest streak in the division at this point, he’s ready and hungry, been calling for a shot at the top and he’s just unfortunate now that he gets the top dog in the division, and imma show what the top of this division is really about.”
Hill said that the disappointment from the Alex Pereira fight will now serve as motivation to get back into the win column at UFC 303, especially as he’s not given up hope of one day earning a rematch with the Brazilian champion:
“Imma put it on this next guy, Khalil Rountree, he has to feel it [next], he’s going to have to feel everything with the frustrations that I feel from last week and I want Alex – I want that fight again, that’s the only fight I want at this point.”
“I want to get back to that fight so I can finish what I was showing,” he stated.
Jamahal Hill vs Khalil Rountree Jr is scheduled for UFC 303 on June 29 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.