Jamahal Hill knows improvement is required after a disappointing night in UFC Baku.
Hill was among those tasked with bringing UFC Octagon action to Azerbaijan for the very first time in June. But ‘Sweet Dreams’ was unable to put on a show for the local fans.
Instead, Khalil Rountree Jr. dominated Hill en route to a comfortable and lopsided decision victory, putting his name back into light heavyweight title contention.
The former champ, meanwhile, has been left licking his wounds after another difficult setback at UFC Baku.
Jamahal Hill admits he hasn’t been ‘on his level’ for a while after UFC Baku defeat
While once on a tear as an undefeated fighter, ‘Sweet Dreams’ has become used to the feeling of defeat in recent times. Since Hill beat Glover Teixeira to win the title in early 2023, the American has lost all three of his subsequent bouts.
Returning from the injury that ousted him from the light heavyweight throne, Hill was brutally knocked out by Alex Pereira at UFC 300. This past January, the 34-year-old suffered a similar fate against his fellow ex-champ, Jiri Prochazka.
The one-sided loss at the hands of Rountree Jr last month has left Hill riding a three-fight losing skid and sitting far from the title picture at 205 pounds.
And amid that run of results, Hill has made an honest assessment of his efforts away from the cage.
“To be honest, I haven’t been on my level. I haven’t been on my level now for quite some time,” Hill said on his YouTube channel.
“I think people severely underestimate the injuries that I’ve dealt with. … An Achilles tear, to an athlete, is a career-ender. Then you compile that with the injuries I’ve also dealt with, the tears in the knees, from trying to come back and force my way back in the timing that I did.
“I’ve gone against a lot of advice,” Hill added. “Before injuries, I was a natural. I’m a natural talent. Things came naturally to me.
“My work and my output has to go up. I have to do more. I have to work harder, I have to grind harder. I’ve entered my last three camps, the lowest was maybe 260 pounds….that goes into that work. I cannot spend camp trying to make weight.
“In that regard, I apologize to the people that have supported me. I have to be better. I have to be better with how I take care of my body.”
Jamahal Hill not rushing back after third consecutive UFC setback
During the same video, Hill suggested that fans should not anticipate seeing him back in the Octagon anytime soon.
Believing his premature return from injury has factored into his losing form in the cage, ‘Sweet Dreams’ plans on healing fully before making the walk again.
“For now, I’m gonna take time,” Hill said. “Take the time I need to make sure that I can get my injuries (healed), focus on my injuries, give them the time they need.
“I haven’t felt like myself in quite some time now. I haven’t been able to do the things I like. I haven’t run since the injury…that’s something that has to change.”