Jamahal Hill is all set for a historic opportunity when he steps inside the Octagon at UFC 300. Headlining what will be the biggest event in the promotion’s 30+ year run, things do not get much bigger for any fighter. However, the journey up until that point has been an excruciatingly painful one.
For those unaware, Jamahal ‘Sweet Dreams’ Hill is the former UFC light heavyweight champion. Kicking off his 2023 in impeccable fashion, Hill clinched the vacant title after a brutal back-and-forth with former champion Glover Teixeira at UFC 283 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
A career highlight, to say the least, the joyous moment was short-lived as Jamahal suffered a ruptured Achilles, a few months later at International Fight Week in June. Put lightly, the injury was a devastating setback for the newly crowned champion, who was forced to vacate the title. Now, Hill returns at UFC 300 to get back a crown he never lost, with the help and support of the staff over at the UFC Performance Institute.
Jamahal Hill credits the UFC PI for helping his recovery from a torn Achilles
For the most part, the UFC’s state-of-the-art $14 million Performance Institute strives to provide UFC athletes with interdisciplinary performance services, such as skill enhancement, nutrition, medication, psychology, and recovery. Thus, it makes life for UFC athletes like Jamahal Hill and others much easier.
Following his surgery, the 32-year-old shifted to Las Vegas, NV from Grand Rapids, Michigan to further work on his rehabilitation. During this time, he was under the care of Dr. Olivia Abdoo, Alex Sauza, and many other trained professionals at the Performance Institute.
“So I relocated to (Las) Vegas to take advantage of the UFC Performance Institute. I sacrificed the time away from my kids, away from the place I know, to be out here, to ultimately attack this challenge.”
“It has been extremely vital in this recovery process, they pretty much went through this whole thing with me, hand in hand, and it was 100% the right decision.”
“With this recovery, I had a lot of good people around me, that kept me focused, and locked in on the mission, which is my opportunity right away to get it all back.”
Speaking on the UFC 300 Countdown, Jamahal Hill revealed how helpful the work of the doctors and staff over at the UFC PI was in getting him back to fighting shape. Now, less than a year since his devastating injury, Hill hopes to recapture his former glory by dispatching the current champion, Alex Pereira.
Jamahal Hill promises Alex Pereira a similar fate to his mentor
Coming into the fight, there has been a lot of doubt regarding Jamahal Hill and his chances of winning against Alex Pereira. Whilst Hill has overcome insurmountable odds, becoming the first Contender Series alum to win a UFC title, Pereira is one of the most electrifying athletes in combat sports right now. Making his way into the UFC in 2021, the Brazilian kickboxer has had a meteoric rise, capturing titles in two weight classes in two years.
One of the fastest championship runs in UFC history, Alex ‘Poatan’ Pereira has truly changed the landscape of the middleweight and now light heavyweight division since his arrival. Having bested some of the biggest names in both divisions, it is clear why Pereira is feared among his peers and held in such high regard by fans. However, none of it fazes his next opponent, Jamahal Hill.
“Alex was there, he was in Glover’s corner. I went in and I dominated Glover for five rounds. Now it’s his turn to come in and see if he can capitalize on that same task and ultimately succeed where his teacher did not,”
After all, Pereira and Hill have had their staredown in the aftermath of the latter’s win over the Brazilian’s mentor, Glover Teixeira. Now, he has the opportunity to exact revenge and beat the man who retired Teixeira. On the other hand, Jamahal Hill has the chance to prove everyone wrong, and become an undisputed, two-time light heavyweight champion, on the biggest stage of them all.
