The UFC 311 pre-fight press conference just wrapped and it's safe to say the LA crowd made their feelings known about who they would be supporting on Saturday night.
While there was significant support for each of the four athletes in the main and co-main events, the “bad guy” of UFC 311 is undoubtedly former light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill.
Not only was 'Sweetdreams' forced to wait for the various 'Chama' chants to die down before answering questions from the media, but he also revealed that his family was unfortunately harassed by obsessed 'Poatan' fans.
Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC
Jamahal Hill drowned out by Alex Pereira fans during UFC 311 press conference
It's been ten months since Jamahal Hill was brutally knocked out by Alex Pereira at UFC 300, and the Los Angeles crowd certainly didn't forget that as fighters graced the stage for the UFC 311 pre-fight press conference.
As soon as the 12-2 light heavyweight walked further, the boos started to ring out; with Alex Pereira's fans interrupting his questions to boo the former champion and chant 'Chama'.
“You're bleeding on the people sitting next to you, man,” replied Hill, eager to note that he had at least captured the attention of an entire arena full of MMA fans.
“They know who I am, they know exactly who I am,” he shouted over the crowd, before declaring that the chants of “Chama” moving from the front “sound good.”
This ongoing conflict with the broader fanbase should come as no surprise, especially after Hill's viral showdown with Alex Pereira at the UFC PI late last year.
That said, 'Sweetdreams' certainly hasn't backed away from the boos and ridicule, having previously teased the Pereira fanbase with over 1,000 fans accepting Hill's offer to spar.
While Hill was disappointed that “not one fan” actually showed up for that sparring session, there is no doubt that his new opponent, Jiri Prochazka, will be ready for war on January 18.
“I'm preparing for the best Jiri Prochazka there is, the best Jiri Prochazka anyone has ever seen, that's what I worked for and that's what I trained for,” Hill said before turning his attention back to the crowd. .
'I'm on my way back [to the top] and they all do this [chanting] at the moment – it's all good, we know how fickle fans can be… They're just sucking a lot of meat right now.
Jamahal Hill reveals his family was harassed by Alex Pereira's fans
While it's been fun to see Hill lean into his 'villain' role in recent months, there's unfortunately a definitive line that fans are crossing when it comes to harassing his family members over his rivalry with the Brazilian.
Speaking to 'The MMA Guru' earlier this week, Hill revealed that his family members, particularly his young daughter, had been harassed by fans following his loss to Pereira in 2024.
“People were talking nonsense and I let them talk, you know what I mean? That's just part of it, but what got me was – and I don't even like to say this – mother****** started hitting my daughter, and my daughter is nine [years old].
“She texted me and she was really upset, and that s*** really pissed me off, that was then the whole Glover side-by-side thing… Then the whole offer sparring thing, yeah that was because of that.”
Hill explained that part of the reason he offered to spare Pereira's fans is because he “wanted someone to show up and pay for it.”
While Hill continues to excite the broader MMA fanbase, that's no reason for any fan to harass a fighter's family members – and you can't necessarily blame 'Sweetdreams' for being so excited.
Can he turn that fire into firepower and beat Jiri Prochazka? Discover it on Saturday January 18.
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