Two months removed from his KO loss to Alex Pereira at UFC 300, former light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill has vented his frustration regarding the Brazilian’s fight celebration.
Earlier this year at UFC 300, Jamahal Hill returned to the UFC Octagon after suffering a potentially career-ending injury last year, to take on Alex Pereira for the 205lb title.
Just three minutes into the main event, ‘Poatan’ landed a hellacious patented left hook after there was a brief halt in the action due to a low blow, turning ‘Sweet Dreams’ lights off.
Jamahal Hill slams Alex Pereira for ‘weak’ celebration following UFC 300 win
Hill was originally scheduled to fight Khalil Rountree Jr in the UFC 303 co-main event, but the latter was temporarily suspended for consuming a banned substance. Carlos Ulberg stepped in on late notice to keep Hill on the card, in what is a big fight at the top end of the 205lb division.
Although the 33-year-old is towards the backend of his preparation for his UFC 303 fight against Ulberg on June 29, he has vented his frustration with Pereira for his celebration following the knockout.
“Now I haven’t really spoken on this but I went to Brazil and dog walked your guy in one of the most one-sided ass whooping’s in championship history and after showed nothing but respect and paid homage,” Hill began in an Instagram post.
The former champion is referring to the fact that in January last year at UFC 283, he won a unanimous decision against Pereira’s head coach, Glover Teixeira.
“I’ve never celebrated over an opponent I beat and even called out my fans for disrespecting Johnny Walker after I slept him. But because I showed competitive fire and was excited to be back after an injury that could have ended my career y’all think this (celebration) was funny or cool,” Hill added.
Sticking with the theme of blaming the brief stoppage in action for the knockout blow, Hill has vowed to KO the Brazilian in a future rematch, claiming he’ll leave him as ‘stiff’ as Israel Adesanya left him at UFC 287.
“You really set up a punch you couldn’t get to without a weird confusing moment and did some weak s***, but it’s ok because you will fight me again and my eyes won’t leave you until you’re as stiff as Izzy left you in Miami.” Hill finished.
It didn’t take long for fans to criticize ‘Sweet Dreams’ for his post, as many wondered why he had brought up Pereira’s post-fight celebration, months after it happened.
Responding to the criticism, Hill said: “F*** all of that, bro. Ya’ll can only talk so much s*** before somebody starts to say something back. So for all of you who are talking all the s*** about this fighting s***, then we can talk money, $20k, pull up to the gym all of you talking on the posts, pull up to the gym and come get paid, I know you’re all broke and need it.”
Alex Pereira eyeing a potential rematch against Jiri Prochazka in August
Jiri Prochazka and Pereira previously met inside the Octagon at UFC 295 last November, when the Brazilian finished the ‘Czech Samurai’ in round two of their main event.
After returning to the win column at UFC 300, Prochazka has seemingly been picked over Magomed Ankalaev for the next title fight.
Speaking to Sportsnet’s Aaron Bronsteter at UFC 302 this past Saturday, Pereira revealed that he is hoping his rematch against Prochazka will take place in around August time, with Dana White sharing the same sentiment in the UFC 302 post-fight press conference.
“I’m not the guy to call names, I’m not the guy to pick fights, whoever they want me to fight but the name that’s on the table at the moment is Jiri Prochazka so we’re still in negotiations,” Pereira told Aaron Bronsteter.
“We’re still in talks, I would like to fight around August but nothing is concrete yet.” the champion finished.