Jamhal Hill worries about being knocked out by Alex Pereira after 77 days of fighting Khalil Rountrey
UFC 300 was a huge occasion for the world of combat sports. On a night when we saw some of the biggest UFC stars step into the Octagon, there were plenty of winners and losers. Among the latter was former champ Jamhal Hill who is seemingly eager to get back into title contention as soon as possible.
For those who don’t know, Jamahal Hill (12-2) previously claimed the vacant light heavyweight title after defeating Glover Teixeira at UFC 283 in 2023. However, due to an Achilles injury, Hill had to undergo extensive rehabilitation, vacating his title in the meantime. Returning less than a year after his injury, Jamal took on Alex Pereira in the main event of UFC 300.
Easy day at the office for @AlexPereiraUFC 😮💨
He gets a first round TKO to retain his LHW belt! #UFC300 pic.twitter.com/7Qbx3xB7GE
— UFC (@ufc) April 14, 2024
Seeing as the general consensus was against him, Hill was very vocal and animated in the buildup to the fight. However, despite all that and his promise to knock out Alex Pereira, it was Jamahal himself, who was on the receiving end of a first-round knockout, which was followed up with some taunting moves from Pereira. Naturally, all these things did not go down too well with the former champ.
Jamal Hill returns against Khalil Rountree at UFC 303
As a result, Jamhal Hill is eager to act and try to fix things as soon as possible. A fierce competitor, Hill will be uncomfortable with how easily Alex Pereira dispatched him. For the most part, his words and demeanor swayed many people in his favor, with many fans and pundits clamoring for a knockout win over Pereira.
Thus, after the loss, ‘Sweet Dreams’ was determined to return and take revenge against Pereira. Although he initially called up Jiri Prochazka, who won against Aleksandar Rakic at UFC 300, it appears the UFC offered him Khalil Rountree instead. Notably, the showdown took place during International Fight Week at UFC 303 on June 29, headlined by Conor McGregor and Michael Chandler.
Another banger is coming at International Fight Week 😤@JamhalH vs @KhalilRountry is locked for #UFC303 pic.twitter.com/Cyzn4EWWgO
— UFC (@ufc) April 20, 2024
Rountree (14-5) is currently #8 in the light heavyweight rankings after a devastating win over Anthony Smith. With most of the top 10 booked or on medical suspension, the matchup is a very exciting one that fans believe will surely deliver. Despite an inconsistent start to his tenure, Rountree has produced bonus-winning knockouts of Anthony Smith, Chris Duckows and Carl Roberson in his last four outings.
Is Jamhal Hill returning to action too soon for his own good?
All things considered, the initial reception of the fight has been very positive. With two hard-hitting knockout specialists, there’s very little chance of a dull moment during the fight. Considering the status of some of the cards following UFC 300, 303 is shaping up nicely with more high-profile fights yet to be officially confirmed. But at the same time, many have expressed concern about Jamhal Hill’s return too soon.
For the most part, Jamal has already fought before his original intended UFC 301 in May. Not only that, fighting again more than three months after the brutal knockout is worrying for his health. While there are no reports of him receiving a lengthy medical suspension, one a*sumes he will need some time off. However, seeing as he missed all of 2023, he seems to be making up for lost time.
While some believe that Hill should have taken more time, others feel that he wasn’t able to show any of the work he did for the Perera fight. Either way, thanks to Rountree’s recent resurgence, fans will feast on this matchup with a lot hanging in the balance. Whether it will be too short for Jamhal Hall, only time will tell.