Former light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill is set to take on Jiri Prochazka at UFC 311. Though the matchup is yet to be officially confirmed, both the fighters have expressed their interest to take on each other. Not everyone is happy though. Daniel Cormier, for instance, does not understand why the UFC needs to make this fight.
“What exactly is this for, considering both have fought the champion and lost…If there is a man to earn a title fight, I believe it has to be Jamahal Hill…he needs to make a statement,” said Cornier in a video on his YouTube channel.
The Hill vs Prochazka fight is clearly to decide the next title contender to take on champion Alex Pereira. Prochazka has fought and lost to Pereira twice. That should have ideally ended his claim for a title shot. Yet he is still there in the picture, and Cormier’s take is spot on here.
Hill, on the other hand, has only lost to the champ once. That too controversially.
At UFC 300, Hill found himself on the wrong end of a vicious left hook which rendered him motionless on the floor. But the manner in which the knockout transpired left him seething.
Hill had accidentally kicked Poatan on the groin, and referee Herb Dean tried to move in. But the champion had released his hook by then and it caught Hill’s chin.
Jamahal has since claimed that he had stopped moving anticipating a stoppage and had let down his guard. He has been demanding a rematch ever since.
However, Hill is not the biggest threat to Pereira’s title at the moment. That’s Magomed Ankalaev, a wrestling-dominant fighter who has an axe to grind with the champ.
As it turns out, Ankalaev has a score to settle with Prochazka as well.
Ankalaev claps back at Prochazka
Ahead of his fight against Hill, Prochazka warned Ankalaev not to talk trash about him since his own performances haven’t stood out.
In response, Ankalaev reminded Jiri about how he was put to sleep by Pereira and that Hill would probably do the same to him.
“Hey why you talk about me, 2 of your last 3 fights you went to sleep, Alex made you go to sleep but I will make Alex go to sleep and I believe Jamahal Hill will make you sleep also, your new name is sleepy Jiri. Focus on your fight,” said Ankalaev.
Ankalaev has long had his eyes on the title shot. But the UFC has been rather protective of Pereira in 2024, and had only offered him strikers. That allowed the promotion to launch him into superstardom. Ankalaev, despite deserving a shot, has to play the waiting game for now.
