Jamahal Hill: “Send Whoever, Just Give Me A Name”

Light Heavyweight Champ on Standby

The UFC Light Heavyweight Division has been in a weird place for the last year, it was running smoothly at UFC 275 when Glover Teixeira was defending his title for the first time against Jiri Prochazka in June of 2022. Prochazka defeated Teixeira by a hail-mary submission late in the fifth round with under a minute left in a fight he would’ve lost on the scorecards.

Today marks exactly one year since winning the UFC title. Since then, I have changed many things in my life, but the Path and Passion to be a true Champion and Master of the field has burned much brighter in me. In a few months I'll take the title clean and clear.
#IAMCOMING//\ pic.twitter.com/ESNUxXA8Oc

— Jiri BJP Prochazka (@jiri_bjp) June 12, 2023

Things began to get disrupted for the division with Prochazka as the new champion as Prochazka relinquished the title due to a shoulder injury. The UFC then scheduled former champ- Jan Blachowicz vs. Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 282 in December last year, that fight ended in a Draw. With no champion crowned, the UFC then took a different approach and had Glover Teixeira vs. Jamahal Hill at the very next PPV- UFC 283 in January this year, Hill defeated Teixeira via. unanimous decision to become UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. After nearly six months, the champion- Hill has yet to defend his title and it’s not by his choice as the UFC is waiting on Prochazka to heal up to have a crack at Hill and the championship gold again.

Jamahal Hill is tired of waiting. Speaking to The Schmo on the wait for Prochazka or any defense of his title for that matter, “I heard the same thing y’all heard. You know it’s summertime and still where you at though, where you at though? I mean, I haven’t heard anything, I’ve been waiting for the call, I’m ready to go. At this point, it’s just I don’t care, it’s next man up now. Whoever peeks they head out first, whoever separates themselves from the pack, whoever it is. Whoever solidifies as that number-one contender, whoever they send, it is what it is. Bro send whoever, just give me a name, I don’t care who it is.”

The Schmo then asked if Hill had any knowledge of when he may be defending his title, Hill said, “I don’t, not at this point, no I don’t. Hopefully, it’s somewhere in September or October, you know I really, really wouldn’t want to wait until those times. Which now I really don’t have much of a choice but I really don’t want to wait past that, I wanted to fight at least two more times this year as champion. It’s not my timetable, I’m working on other people’s schedule right now but I’m ready to go, I’m ready to fight. I’m just waiting for a name.”

Jan Blachowicz welcomes former UFC Middleweight Champ- Alex Pereira to the Light Heavyweight division next month at UFC 291. Perhaps the winner of that bout will get the title opportunity if Prochazka is still not ready, only time will tell.