Former UFC light heavyweight champion, Jamahal Hill, believes he’s been a “high level” and “dominant” fighter over the course of his UFC career, with the exception of his recent knockout losses against fellow ex-champions Alex Pereira and Jiri Prochazka.
Perhaps this injury was to blame.
That’s why “Sweet Dreams” wants to “make a statement” against Khalil Rountree Jr. when they hook ‘em up in the UFC Baku main event this weekend in Azerbaijan. Hill is currently ranked three spots above Rountree Jr. at No. 4 in the 205-pound rankings.
‘’I believe 100 percent I need to come out and make a statement against Khalil Rountree,” Hill said in a recent promo from ESPN. “I need to show that I’m still that high level and dominant fighter that I’ve been. The guy’s a brutal fighter. He doesn’t come out to just beat you, he comes out to truly do damage.”
Hill is a slight betting underdog ahead of this weekend’s showdown.
“He wants to be feared,” Hill (12-3, 1 NC) continued. “But I have the ability to win a fight in multiple ways, and he has really just one way to win. He has a puncher’s chance and I believe I’m the magician here. I got all the tricks.’’
Pereira disagrees.
It’s interesting to hear the 34 year-old Hill refer to Rountree Jr., 35, as a puncher with “just one way to win” considering “Sweet Dreams” has never attempted a takedown in his UFC career (a span of 10 fights) and has zero victories by way of submission.
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