“They call us to save the cards!” Despite headlining UFC 300, Jamahal Hill FUMES at ESPN for lowest grade for light heavyweight division

Despite boasting big names who've held titles before, the LHW division is ranked the lowest by ESPN MMA, and Jamahal Hill wants to get involved.

“They call us to save the cards!” Despite headlining UFC 300, Jamahal Hill FUMES at ESPN for lowest grade for light heavyweight division

Jamahal Hill sounds off on many light heavyweights fighting at UFC 300 (Souce: IMAGO/Instagram)

205lber Jamahal Hill returns to action this April. He is one-half of UFC 300’s landmark headliner and also happens to be current light heavyweight champ Alex Pereira‘s maiden defense. The 9-2-0, 2-division, and GLORY titleholder is the pinnacle of combat sports culture. Along with him, Hill, and others, the weight class has many fans gravitating towards it.

UFC has a prominent deal with ESPN (and ESPN+) for broadcasting purposes and UFC Fight Night grind. Much akin to Ring Magazine and others making their boxing rankings, ESPN MMA (MMA on ESPN – UFC, PFL, and Bellator Fights Coverage) does it as well. 

The disrespect is crazy!!! Headlining UFC 300 main and preliminaries but LHW is the weak? They call us to save the card!!!
Jamahal Hill’s comment via his IG account (@sweet_dreams_jhill)

The 205-pound class boasts names like ‘Poatan’, Jiri Procházka, Aleksandar Rakic, Jan Blachowicz, and others. Quite a few of these names have held a title. Other ranking combatants like Johnny Walker, Khalil Rountree Jr., and Magomed Ankalaev are also included. Rakic vs. Prochazka and Hill’s title challenge match are subsequently part of UFC 300’s late prelims and the main card at the T-Mobile Arena.

Jamahal Hill vacated his stake to the LHW gold after a ruptured Achilles tendon at a basketball game during UFC 290 Fight Week. Very recently, he mentioned that the call to headline UFC 300 against Alex Pereira was very 11th-hour-esque. Hence, he now snipes back at LWH for having to “save the cards” at the epic event, despite such low gradings.

Jamahal Hill is seemingly fed up with fan haggling, leading up to UFC 300 title bout

Jamahal Hill never lost his claim to the light heavyweight title gold. He had to give it up due to injury. Concurrently, Alex ‘Poatan’ Pereira whipped up the title and is now making his first title defense. Both 205lbers make their case for the gold at UFC 300’s star-studded card. Hill has been confident of his mettle in the lead-up to their clash.

Jamhal Hill takes offense to fans dissing his strategy on challenging Alex Pereira for the gold
Jamahal Hill takes offense to fans dissing his strategy on challenging Alex Pereira for the gold (Source: IMAGO/Instagram)

At the UFC 300 Q&A Session sitdown with ESPN MMA‘s Megan Olivi, Pereira doused out much confidence in winning. During The MMA Hour, he had dubbed Hill as the fourth-best current light heavyweight on the roster. He also yet again hinted at a quick rebound after his title defense. Conversely, Hill retorted that while he respects the champion, catching up to him doesn’t mean outclassing him.

Additionally, he also enlisted the help of Pereira’s old middleweight rival – Israel Adesanya. Here’s what he nudges on the fan reactions he has got back for it:

‘Sweet Dreams‘ defeated 33-9-0 veteran Glover Teixeira at UFC 283: Teixeira vs. Hill. Pereira now trains under him at the Teixeira MMA & Fitness gym and is a close acquaintance. Hill finds it rather funny that Teixeira, whom he defeated, could provide any valuable titbit to help Pereira.

Meanwhile, his current association with former champ Adesanya is also gibed upon, which baffles him. However, nothing is set in stone. Both fighters have a puncher’s chance; come UFC 300, it’s anybody’s guess who would come out on top.

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