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Watch: Father of 6, Jamahal Hill, Breaks Down After Being Forced to Vacate His Dream UFC Title Due to an Unforeseeable Injury

Published 07/14/2023, 4:25 AM EDT

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The reigning UFC light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill has been dealt a blow as he was forced to give up his title due to a devastating torn Achilles tendon injury. ‘Sweet Dreams’ sustained the injury during a rigorous training session, and now faces the prospect of surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation period. This will keep him out of action for quite a while. In a video uploaded to his YouTube channel, the 32-year-old poured out his disappointment at being unable to defend his belt against Jiří Procházka. The bout was reportedly being targeted for UFC 292 in Boston in August.

The decision to let go of the title was no walk in the park for Hill. But he comprehended the significance of keeping the division active and preventing any delay in the progress of other fighters. The former champion commended Procházka for making a similar decision and allowing the division to forge ahead. Hill expressed heartfelt appreciation to the UFC for their unwavering support during this arduous period. He also revealed that the promotion has promised him an immediate title shot upon his return.

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Hill’s ascent to fame came after his stellar performance on Dana White‘s Contender Series. At UFC 283, he emerged as the lone fighter from the show to clinch a UFC title when he triumphed over the legendary Glover Teixeira to seize the vacant LHW title. Unfortunately, this unforeseen injury has put an abrupt end to his reign. As he addressed the fans, the light heavyweight kingpin could not hold back his emotions. The father of six expressed his unwavering dedication to focusing on his recovery and making a triumphant return to the octagon at the earliest. But, with’s Hill’s exit, how will the UFC bring the division back in order?

Who will succeed Jamahal Hill in the UFC 205 lbs division?

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With the light heavyweight title now up for grabs, the division finds itself without a champion once again. There are several formidable contenders in the division, including Jan Błachowicz, Alex Pereira, and former champion ‘Denisa’ Procházka. In this context, the upcoming fight between Pereira and Blachowicz at UFC 291 could have title fight implications.

via Imago

Pereira and Blachowicz are both former champions and top 5 ranked contenders in their respective divisions. A win line either fighter up for a title fight opportunity. Could the winner of the UFC 291 co-main event face Prochazka later this year for the title?

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What are your thoughts on the mess at light heavyweight? Let us know in the comments below.

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Written by:

Mayur Soni

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One take at a time

Mayur Soni is a UFC writer at EssentiallySports. His journey as an MMA fan started with Conor McGregor’s historic 13-second knockout of Jose Aldo in 2015, which sparked his love for the sport. Since then, he has closely followed the sport and gained an in-depth understanding of its nuances, which reflects in his insightful and analytical writing.
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Edited by:

Yeswanth Praveen