Jamahal Hill needs more time to prepare for swimming challenge against Helen Yee
In an interview with MMA reporter Helen Yee back in July 2022, Jamahal Hill discussed his then-upcoming fight against Thiago Santos, as well as his thoughts on Hall of Famers Daniel Cormier and Khabib Nurmagomedov's legacy.
During the same interview, Hill, who has since gone on to achieve championship status in the light heavyweight division of the UFC, challenged Yee for a swimming contest. It is worth noting that Yee is a former two-time state champion and nationally-ranked swimmer.
Check out the interview below:
In a recent interview with Helen Yee, Jamahal Hill reflected on his journey from his professional MMA debut in 2017 to now being crowned as the undisputed UFC light heavyweight champion.
Yee saw the opportunity to reunite with Hill as the ideal moment to bring up the challenge Hill offered in 2022. Hill commented, in response to her assertions that 'Sweet Dreams' is wriggling out of the swimming challenge:
"I haven't been ducking you. You've been training so... I was ready to go. I was ready to go the day of the challenge. You were like, 'No. I need to practice."
Hill added, in response to Yee's revision of the challenge to give the champion a 3-second head start rather than the previously stipulated 5-second head start:
"Why didn't you accept the challenge the day that I offered the challenge? You've been practicing. This isn't fair. I feel like it's only fair that I get time to train as well."
Check out the interview below:
Jamahal Hill cautions Alex Pereira to focus on Israel Adesanya
At UFC 283, Jamahal Hill became the first graduate of Dana White's Contender Series to win the UFC world title by defeating former champion Glover Texeira in front of his home crowd in Brazil.
UFC middleweight champion Alex Periera, who was in Teixeira's corner during the fight, was captured on camera after the bout apparently sizing up Hill. Given his size, 'Poatan' is expected to move up to the 205-pound division at some point in the future.
The way Alex Pereira sized him up...
One title defence at Middleweight this year and I believe he gets his revenge and puts the ‘Sweet Dreams’ truly into Jamahal Hill. https://t.co/TORqKC7Zqr
The UFC booked a rematch between Pereira and former middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, despite speculations and narratives that the organization would offer Pereira a chance to exact revenge for Teixeira's loss. Pereira won the championship from Adesanya at UFC 281 with a fifth-round TKO victory.
In a recent interview with The Schmo, Jamahal Hill advised Pereira to focus exclusively on his upcoming rematch against Israel Adesanya at UFC 287, as opposed to evaluating his future prospects. Hill stated:
"I think he [Alex Pereira] should really focus on Izzy [Israel Adesanya] because uhh... he was getting his a** whopped for a good majority of that fight last time before he won."
Check out the full interview with Jamahal Hill below: