Media attention can be a powerful tool for UFC fighters, driving viewership and elevating their profiles. While some, like Conor McGregor or Chael Sonnen, thrive on the spotlight, others handle it less comfortably. For Jamahal Hill, his ongoing feud with Alex Pereira has brought him into the headlines for reasons that extend far beyond the Octagon.

The tension between Hill and Pereira escalated into a near-physical confrontation at the UFC Performance Institute. The incident, sparked when Pereira threw a pair of gloves at Hill, quickly spiraled, drawing the attention of fans and sparking a wave of online trolling. Hill found himself under fire and didn’t hesitate to fire back with his own verbal “punches,” keeping the feud alive in the public eye.

Recently, Kamaru Usman weighed in on the drama on his Pound 4 Pound podcast on YouTube. He offered Hill a different perspective and said, “You are a former champion. Listen, you’re getting clowned online because of what you chose to do,” Usman said. “But what you’re not realizing is, yes, people may be clowning you. But guess what? They’re still talking about you. They’re keeping you in the mix. Your name is still connected to Alex Pereira. Even though people are saying you looked bad for what you did, they’re still talking about you. Your name is out there.”

But why did Usman bring up the “clowning” in the first place? It’s because several veteran UFC stars couldn’t resist poking fun at Hill, and Hill wasn’t having any of it. Instead of brushing off the criticism, Hill responded head-on, escalating the back-and-forth. This only fueled the attention surrounding his feud with Pereira, keeping both fighters firmly in the spotlight.

Jamahal Hill slams the MMA community for crossing the line

Recently, veteran 155fer Michael Johnson shared his thoughts on the feud between Pereira and Hill in a conversation with Mike Perry. “That’s some clown s***,” Johnson remarked on the OverDogs Podcast. Unsurprisingly, these comments didn’t sit well with Jamahal Hill.

“Gang, you a b***, and you one of the biggest clowns and p**** on the roster,” Hill fired back on social media. He didn’t stop there, adding, “They keep you around to get slept by debut fighters!!!” Hill also took a jab at Johnson’s UFC earnings, claiming he had made more money in his career than Johnson, who has been competing in the UFC since 2010, with over 30 appearances in the Octagon.

The feud with Pereira, however, took an even darker turn when Hill revealed that his family, specifically his 9-year-old daughter, was being dragged into the conflict. “They started hitting up on my daughter,” Hill shared, referencing inappropriate messages directed at her. As a father of six, Hill was understandably appalled that his family—and more disturbingly, a child—was targeted.

One of the unwritten rules in MMA is that family should remain off-limits in trash talk and rivalries. Yet, in this case, that boundary was crossed, making the feud more serious than mere promotional theatrics. While Hill may have initially leaned into the rivalry for attention, his current actions seem to reflect a father’s instinct to shield his loved ones from harm.

Given the circumstances, do you think Kamaru Usman’s advice to Hill is justified? Or has the situation escalated beyond the point where attention matters? Share your thoughts in the comments below!