Former UFC champion Jamahal Hill is over Magomed Ankalaev's continued online antics as the two light heavyweights close in on a title shot.
Jamahal Hill will make his highly anticipated return to the Octagon on the UFC's first pay-per-view card of 2025. He hasn't fought since suffering a knockout against Alex Pereira at UFC 300 and suffered an injury prior ahead of his scheduled return at UFC 303 against Khalil Rountree Jr.
Hill is looking to get back into the mix at 205 pounds and potentially earn a future rematch with Pereira. First thing's first for Hill, as he looks to get back in the win column and cement himself as one of the top light heavyweight prospects.
Jamahal Hill on the night he won his UFC title.
In the meantime, Ankalaev is the most likely next title challenger for Pereira after defeating Aleksandar Rakić at UFC 308. He is on a 13-fight undefeated streak and aims to right the wrong of a controversial draw he recorded against Jan Blachowicz in their vacant title. fight at UFC 282.
During his climb up the light heavyweight ladder, Ankalaev has become more animated in an effort to better promote himself. During his rise, he has traded with some of the best light heavyweights on social media, including Hill.
Hill is done with Ankalaev's attempts to get under his skin.
Jamahal Hill goes scorched earth on Magomed Ankalaev after recent online taunts
In a recent interview with Inside Fighting, Hill responded to Ankalaev's recent antics with a fiery rant.
“I want to take Magomed out just because to me he's ab****, and he talks like ab**** and reacts like ab****,” Hill said. “So I don't really care for him at all, so fuck him. I don't even talk to this fool, and he comes and tries to shoot me because he's so stupid, and he sees that the fan base has a thing for me, so he tries to kind of ride that wave. A few other people do that, but he's the cheapest one to do it.
“Even after they announced the Khalil Rountree fight [at UFC 307]“I thought it should have been Magomed,” Hill continued. “So I said that, and this motherfucker tries to talk about me crying? Wait a minute, I'm just saying what I think… do you really want beef? I can do beef like that, fuck you.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Despite Hill's disdain for Ankalaev, he recognizes that the Dagestani has the best chance outside of himself in the 205-pound division to dethrone Pereira.
“Alex is a forward, pressure fighter… exposes himself to counters. Ankalaev counters with combinations, so there will be openings for him to land,” Hill admitted. “Plus, Ankalaev is a southpaw, so that's another part of the puzzle he's going to have to figure out… I give Ankalaev a high chance of getting the win just because of the style he fights with… he's hitting things out.”
Ankalaev is one of the few light heavyweight contenders left to face Pereira. After defeating Rountree at UFC 307, causing a Cageside Hill tedium, Pereira will likely face Ankalaev for his next title defense.
Jamahal Hill takes on a former light heavyweight champion in UFC 311 return
Hill and Jiří Procházka will clash in a high-profile light heavyweight bout at UFC 311 in Los Angeles. The winner could potentially earn another title shot against the winner of Pereira vs. Ankalaev, assuming the UFC finalizes the title fight.
Hill is looking to regain the form that led him to the light heavyweight throne, beating the likes of Glover Teixeira and Thiago Santos on his way to the top. His UFC 283 win over Teixeira for the then-vacant title ranks as his most recent win.
Time will tell if Hill and Ankalaev will come face to face in the Octagon. Meanwhile, tensions reach a boiling point, especially from Hill's perspective.
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