Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill finds himself at the center of controversy after being arrested in Michigan on Monday over domestic violence allegations.
The alleged victim, identified as his brother, James Anthony Hill J, reportedly suffered serious or aggravated injuries during the incident, according to court documents obtained by TMZ.
The altercation involving Jamahal Hill and his sibling James transpired on November 25, stemming from a disagreement over a $300 payment for the cleaning of Hill’s unoccupied residence, with Hill’s sister-in-law at the center of the dispute.
The disagreement evolved into a more personal dispute, as Hill’s brother, James accused him of failing to send a Thanksgiving text to his daughter.
In the course of the argument, as per the report, Jamahal Hill, who was shirtless at the time, allegedly administered two “sucker punches” to his brother’s face and also pushed a female witness.
According to Hill’s brother, both punches led to his fall, particularly the second one, which reportedly left him “dazed.”
Despite sustaining injuries, Hill’s brother initially hesitated to involve law enforcement, expressing apprehension about the potential impact on his brother’s fighting career.
Law enforcement officials observed apparent injuries on Hill’s brother, including a swollen face, eye, and a chipped tooth.
Hill was swiftly booked into a Kent County jail but was released on the same day.
Jamahal Hill, however, is not keeping silent on the matter. Taking to his YouTube channel, he addressed the incident, labeling it a “situation that happened while I was back home in Michigan visiting for the holidays.”
Despite the advice not to speak about the case, Hill expressed eagerness for the truth to emerge in court.
“At this time, it’s an open case,” Hill stated. “I’ve been advised not to speak on it, which I know not to speak on it. I just can’t wait for the truth to be told in court. I will wait for that day, and I look forward to that day. The people who know me and know my character and truly, truly rock with me and know who I am, hold on to that and stay true to that. That’s all I’m gonna say on that.”
Hill also posted a snippet of his statement on X (née Twitter).
“I can’t wait for the truth to come out in court”!!! Make sure you’re as loud acknowledging being wrong as a lot of you are with speculating and assuming.
— Jamahal Hill (@JamahalH) December 6, 2023
Amid the controversy, Jamahal Hill’s representative, Brian Butler, has come forward to address what he deems as “clickbait” headlines surrounding the incident.
In a statement, Butler asserted:
“The recent ‘click bait’ headlines about Jamahal Hill were based on an alleged dispute between him and his older brother. Jamahal adamantly maintains his innocence and denies the false accusations. We will not be commenting anymore about this until the truth comes out in court.”
Hill is set to make a court appearance on January 22 for further legal proceedings.
In 2017, Jamahal Hill began his MMA career with KnockOut Promotions and gained recognition through Dana White’s Contender Series 21 in 2019, securing a UFC contract with a victory.
His UFC debut came on January 25, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 166, where he defeated Darko Stošić.
Hill participated in subsequent events, including UFC on ESPN 9, UFC on ESPN 19, and UFC 263.
On July 14, 2023, Hill shared on his YouTube channel that he tore his Achilles tendon while playing a basketball game for fun during UFC International Fight Week. He also said he would be giving up the UFC Light Heavyweight title.
