Jamahal Hill finds himself in a three-fight losing streak. If that wasn’t bad enough, the 34-year-old now faces another major obstacle—a significant injury suffered in the aftermath of his latest defeat at UFC Baku. In June, Dana White & Co. made their inaugural trip to Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku, where inside the Baku Crystal Hall, Hill took on Khalil Rountree Jr. in a high-stakes clash intended to determine their standing among the division’s top contenders. However, Hill struggled to handle Rountree’s explosive Muay Thai offense.

The tide shifted decisively in the third round, as Rountree relentlessly targeted Jamahal Hill’s legs with punishing kicks, visibly compromising the former champion’s movement. By the end of five rounds, the judges reflected Rountree’s dominance on the scorecards, awarding him a one-sided unanimous decision. Following the fight, ‘Sweet Dreams’ vowed to seek revenge in a rematch. However, the former champion will now have to put those plans on hold.

Jamahal Hill shares injury update months after UFC Baku

Months after his defeat in Baku, ‘Sweet Dreams’ revealed he had been grappling with a serious injury. He posted an image on Instagram of his leg in a brace with the caption, “Road back to gold, taking the time needed to recover and be at my best!!!” Earlier this month at UFC 320, the light heavyweight division experienced a major shake-up as Alex Pereira reclaimed his title with a spectacular first-round knockout of Magomed Ankalaev inside the T-Mobile Arena. With Jamahal Hill sidelined on a prolonged layoff, the 205-pound division must now progress without one of its former top contenders, especially considering his three-fight skid.

When a fan commented, “Another knee injury? That’s terrible i know how that feels,” Jamahal Hill confirmed the setback, replying, “finally fixing the issues I’ve been dealing with.” Hill’s defeat to Khalil Rountree at Baku has only compounded his struggles. The 34-year-old has a history of setbacks, particularly when, in the summer of 2023, he had to vacate the title after suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon while playing basketball during UFC International Fight Week, which led to a lengthy layoff, even though he was the champion then.

Moreover, Jamahal Hill’s challenges extended beyond injuries, as he had already developed a reputation as one of the promotion’s most disliked fighters. Subsequently, upon his return months later to challenge Alex Pereira for the title at UFC 300 in 2024, ‘Sweet Dreams’s comeback fell short when Pereira’s left hook ended his bid. Following that, earlier this year at UFC 311, Jiri Prochazka also defeated Hill, putting him to sleep, and most recently, he suffered another setback against Khalil Rountree Jr.

Hill sets sights on redemption in the octagon

Jamahal Hill’s penchant for staying in the spotlight has made him one of MMA’s most polarizing figures. His reputation came under particular scrutiny around UFC 300, following his knockout loss to Alex Pereira, when fans and critics widely viewed his behavior and post-fight statements, including multiple excuses, as poor sportsmanship. Those actions did little to bolster his standing. The controversy continued at UFC 307, when Alex Pereira and Khalil Rountree Jr. delivered a thrilling matchup that had fans on the edge of their seats. At the same time, ‘Sweet Dreams’, caught on camera yawning, seemingly dismissed the fight as boring—a gesture that further fueled fan outrage.

Since returning to the octagon, Jamahal Hill has been unable to secure a victory, suffering defeats at the hands of Alex Pereira, Jiri Prochazka, and, most recently, Khalil Rountree Jr., solidifying a troubled legacy within the sport. Even so, ‘Sweet Dreams’ is far from finished. Now on hiatus, the American star is plotting a comeback and seeking revenge. After his loss to Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC Baku, Hill broke his silence, saying, “I haven’t been on my level now for quite some time… people severely underestimate the injuries that I’ve dealt with… I have to do more, I have to work harder, I have to grind harder.”

As of now, Jamahal Hill’s return plan has shifted to 2026. Do you think ‘Sweet Dreams’ could make a comeback into contention, considering he is coming off a three-fight losing streak? Drop your opinion below.