They famously say that Scousers don’t get knocked out, but it seems that UFC Baku headliner Jamahal Hill doesn’t either — even when he actually does.
Hill is badly in need of a victory in his next fight, which is fast approaching as the UFC gears up to debut in a new country.
Headlining the first event in Azerbaijan, Hill will face Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC Baku. Both men are coming off losses to Alex Pereira in 2024, with ‘Sweet Dreams’ also following that with another knockout defeat against Jiri Prochazka.
Despite what his record may say, though, Hill says differently.
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Jamahal Hill claims he’s ‘never’ been knocked out ahead of UFC Baku
In his first fight after returning from injury, Hill was dropped and brutally finished with ground strikes by Pereira at UFC 300. 10 months later, ‘Sweet Dreams’ was the victim of a TKO against Prochazka at UFC 311 this past January.
That losing run has understandably led to questions about how Hill will bounce back from consecutive knockouts when he faces another power-puncher in Rountree Jr.
Hill, however, disagrees with the notion he’s been KO’d in mixed martial arts.
“No, because I wasn’t KO’d,” Hill said when asked by Kevin Iole if his approach changes off the back of two knockout losses.
“I think my definition of a knockout is a lot different than your definition of a knockout. I think the actual definition is being knocked unconscious, like having to be woken up.
“That’s never happened to me,” Hill added. “The Pereira fight it was more so just like — honestly that weird ass moment where Herb (Dean) kind of stopped the fight and then let Alex continue the fight. That was some weird s—-.
“The Jiri fight, I thought I could go in even with some of the issues I was dealing with and be a former champion. He added some things to his game that turned out to be very beneficial for him.”
Jamahal Hill took issue with Alex Pereira’s UFC 300 celebration
UFC 300 marked a difficult night for Hill. After being unceremoniously thrust off the light heavyweight throne by a ruptured Achilles before he could make a defense, the American vowed to dominate Pereira to regain the belt.
But his pre-fight comments came back to bite him when he was quickly shut down by the Brazilian’s renowned left hook in the very first round.
Hill took issue with a number of things related to the finish, including referee Herb Dean’s brief intervention following a low blow. Despite the former champ touching gloves with ‘Poatan’ to recommence the bout, he insists that the break in action was to blame for the loss.
And months after the result, he also took aim at Pereira for his post-fight celebration.
“Now I haven’t really spoken on this but I went to Brazil and dog walked your guy (Glover Teixeira) in one of the most one-sided ass whoopings in championship history and after showed nothing but respect and paid homage,” Hill wrote in a now-deleted Instagram post.
“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 concluded the post by promising to get revenge on Pereira in a rematch.
“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.”