Jamahar Hill returns to the drawing.
The former light heavyweight champion lost three times in a row at UFC Baku, extending his career-worst slump dating back to April 2024.
On his YouTube channel, Hill dealt with the loss, admitting that he was not at his best, and that the changes need to be made to return to his previous glory.
“I know that a lot was made and things were said before the fight. I said my last few fights, saying that Halil’s comments were not on my level, but honestly, I wasn’t on my level,” Hill said. “I’ve never been on my level for quite some time. I think people are seriously underestimating the injuries I dealt with and the things and challenges I had to overcome with it.
“Achilles’ tears to athletes are career enders, and in many cases career enders for many people. And compile it with the injuries I dealt with. I can’t get away and I can’t say.”
Hill, 34, won the UFC Light Heavyweight title open at UFC 283 for his strong Bell-to-Bell performance against Glover Teixeira. He had to confiscate the title six months later after beating Achilles during a pick-up basketball game. In the comeback fight at the UFC 300, Hill was knocked out by champion Alex Pereira and has yet to return to his victory column.
Hill didn’t give him a schedule when he was hoping to book his next fight, but he showed that he would properly heal his injuries and take a little break to make changes to his training.
“For now, I’m going to focus on the injury and take the time needed to give them the time they need to get them back into strength and make them feel like me again,” Hill said. “I haven’t felt like myself for quite some time now. I couldn’t do what I like. I couldn’t run from an injury. Maybe I can’t, something like that, just my feet don’t have strength. That’s something that has to change.
“I’m going to take my time and go back to where I know I can and go back to that exciting fighter and the dominant champion I know,” he added. ”
Hill seemed somewhat surprised when the scorecard was read at the end of his fight with the Rown Tree, but he explained that he was mostly troubled by a 50-45 score pair that doesn’t feel like it doesn’t reflect how competitive the match is. He also appeared to have a word with Lone Tree regarding his lack of action in the fight, but the two seemed to have resolved that disagreement without further incident.
When assessing the contest, Hill wants to ensure that Rountree wins credit for his performance.
“Congratulations to Khalil Rountree for winning and entering the top five,” Hill said. “He was hungry. He was working his ass. He wanted to knock on the door for another title shot so he could do that with this victory. He had a game plan to attack my legs.
“The fight was a little more boring than I wanted. I was hoping to get a little more involved so he was actually going to chase it and put the show, the performance together.