| Jamahal Hill | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jamahal Alexander Hill (1991-05-19)May 19, 1991 (age 33) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Other names | Sweet Dreams |
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) |
| Weight | 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb) |
| Division | Light Heavyweight |
| Reach | 79 in (201 cm)[1] |
| Fighting out of | Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S. |
| Team | Black Lion Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (2010–present)[2] |
| Rank | Brown belt inBrazilian Jiu-Jitsu[3] |
| Years active | 2017–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 16 |
| Wins | 12 |
| By knockout | 7 |
| By decision | 5 |
| Losses | 3 |
| By knockout | 3 |
| No contests | 1 |
| Other information | |
| Mixed martial arts record fromSherdog | |
Jamahal Alexander Hill[4] (/dʒəˈmɑːl/; born May 19, 1991) is an American professionalmixed martial artist. He currently competes in theLight Heavyweight division of theUltimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is a formerUFC Light Heavyweight Champion. As of January 21, 2025, he is #4 in theUFC light heavyweight rankings.[5]
Hill moved to Grand Rapids when he was 12. He graduated from Rogers High School inWyoming, Michigan. After passing on a basketball career atDavenport University, Hill started competing in professional mixed martial arts in 2017.[6]
Hill started his professional career in 2017 with a 5–0 record, four of the five fights coming under the KnockOut Promotions banner. In just his fourth professional fight Hill defeated future UFC fighterDequan Townsend despite Townsend having twenty-six pro appearances prior to that bout.[7]
Hill then received the call to appear onDana White's Contender Series 21 back in 2019, where Hill defeated opponent Alexander Poppeck via second-round ground and pound, earning his UFC contract.[8]
Hill made his UFC debut againstDarko Stošić on January 25, 2020, atUFC Fight Night 166.[9] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[10]
Hill facedKlidson Abreu on May 30, 2020, atUFC on ESPN: Woodley vs. Burns.[11] He initially won the fight via technical knockout in the first round, but the fight was later overturned on September 3 because Hill tested positive formarijuana.[12] He was suspended six months and fined 15% of his fight purse.[12]
Hill facedOvince Saint Preux on December 5, 2020, atUFC on ESPN 19.[13] At the weigh-ins, former interimUFC Light Heavyweight Championship challengerOvince Saint Preux weighed in at 207.5 pounds, one and a half pounds over the light heavyweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at a catchweight and Saint Preux was fined 20% of his individual purse, which went to Hill.[14] Hill won the fight via technical knockout in the second round.[15]
Hill was scheduled to facePaul Craig on March 20, 2021UFC on ESPN 21.[16] However, on March 10, Hill withdrew from the bout after testing positive for COVID-19.[17] The pairing with Craig remained intact and took place on June 12, 2021, atUFC 263.[18] After having his elbow dislocated early in the fight via an armbar from Craig, Hill lost the fight via technical knockout in the first round.[19]
Hill was scheduled to faceJimmy Crute on October 2, 2021UFC Fight Night 193.[20] However, in early September, the bout was rescheduled two months later atUFC on ESPN: Font vs. Aldo.[21] He won the fight via knockout in the first round.[22] This win earned him thePerformance of the Night award.[23]
In his first UFC main event, Hill facedJohnny Walker on February 19, 2022, atUFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Hill.[24] He won the fight via knockout in the first round.[25] The win earned Hill his secondPerformance of the Night bonus award.[26]
Hill facedThiago Santos on August 6, 2022, atUFC on ESPN 40.[27] He won the fight via technical knockout.[28] This fight earned him theFight of the Night award.[29]
Hill was scheduled to faceAnthony Smith on March 11, 2023, atUFC Fight Night 221.[30] However, Hill was pulled from the bout after being rebooked to headlineUFC 283 for the vacantUFC Light Heavyweight Championship againstGlover Teixeira on January 21, 2023.[31][32] He won the bout and title via unanimous decision, and in the process became the firstDana White's Contender Series alumn to win a UFC championship.[33] This fight earned him theFight of the Night award.[34]
On July 14, 2023, Hill announced via hisYouTube page that he had ruptured hisAchilles tendon playing a fighter basketball game duringUFC International Fight Week, and that he would be relinquishing the UFC Light Heavyweight title.[35]
Hill facedAlex Pereira for theUFC Light Heavyweight Championship in the main event ofUFC 300 on April 13, 2024.[36] He lost the fight by knockout in the first round.[37]
Hill was scheduled to faceKhalil Rountree Jr. atUFC 303 on June 29, 2024.[38] However, Rountree was forced to withdraw from the event due to taking a banned substance,[39] and was replaced byCarlos Ulberg,[40] who was eventually replaced byRoman Dolidze.[41] Hill, in turn withdrew due to injury and was replaced byAnthony Smith.[42]
Hill faced formerUFC Light Heavyweight ChampionJiří Procházka on January 18, 2025 atUFC 311.[43] He lost the fight by technical knockout in the third round.[44]
Hill is scheduled to face formerUFC Light Heavyweight Championship challengerKhalil Rountree Jr. on April 26, 2025 in the main event atUFC on ESPN 66.[45]
Hill has six children, who ranged in age from 2 to 14 years old, as of June 2021.[46]On November 28, 2023, Hill was arrested inKent County, Michigan on a charge ofaggravated domestic violence after allegedly assaulting his brother on the night of November 27. He was later released from custody after posting bail. Hill's first court hearing was scheduled for January 2024.[47]
| 16 matches | 12 wins | 3 losses |
| By knockout | 7 | 3 |
| By decision | 5 | 0 |
| No contests | 1 | |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 12–3 (1) | Jiří Procházka | TKO (punches) | UFC 311 | January 18, 2025 | 3 | 3:01 | Inglewood, California, United States | |
| Loss | 12–2 (1) | Alex Pereira | KO (punches) | UFC 300 | April 13, 2024 | 1 | 3:14 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | For theUFC Light Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 12–1 (1) | Glover Teixeira | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 283 | January 21, 2023 | 5 | 5:00 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Won the vacantUFC Light Heavyweight Championship. Fight of the Night. Later vacated the title due to injury. |
| Win | 11–1 (1) | Thiago Santos | TKO (punches and elbows) | UFC on ESPN: Santos vs. Hill | August 6, 2022 | 4 | 2:31 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 10–1 (1) | Johnny Walker | KO (punch) | UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Hill | February 19, 2022 | 1 | 2:55 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 9–1 (1) | Jimmy Crute | KO (punches) | UFC on ESPN: Font vs. Aldo | December 4, 2021 | 1 | 0:48 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Loss | 8–1 (1) | Paul Craig | TKO (elbows and punches) | UFC 263 | June 12, 2021 | 1 | 1:59 | Glendale, Arizona, United States | |
| Win | 8–0 (1) | Ovince Saint Preux | TKO (punches) | UFC on ESPN: Hermansson vs. Vettori | December 5, 2020 | 2 | 3:37 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Catchweight (207.5 lb) bout; Saint Preux missed weight. |
| NC | 7–0 (1) | Klidson Abreu | NC (overturned) | UFC on ESPN: Woodley vs. Burns | May 30, 2020 | 1 | 1:51 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Originally a TKO (knee to the body and punches) win for Hill; overturned after he tested positive formarijuana.[59] |
| Win | 7–0 | Darko Stošić | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. dos Santos | January 25, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Raleigh, North Carolina, United States | |
| Win | 6–0 | Alexander Poppeck | TKO (punches and elbows) | Dana White's Contender Series 21 | July 23, 2019 | 3 | 0:22 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 5–0 | William Vincent | TKO (retirement) | Lights Out Championship 2 | February 16, 2019 | 1 | 5:00 | Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States | Catchweight (225 lb) bout. |
| Win | 4–0 | Dequan Townsend | Decision (unanimous) | KnockOut Promotions 62 | June 30, 2018 | 5 | 5:00 | Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States | Won the KOP Light Heavyweight Championship. |
| Win | 3–0 | William Vincent | Decision (unanimous) | KnockOut Promotions 61 | April 21, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Mike Johnson | TKO (punches) | KnockOut Promotions 59 | December 16, 2017 | 1 | 4:45 | Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States | Light Heavyweight debut. |
| Win | 1–0 | Alex Davidson | Decision (unanimous) | KnockOut Promotions 58 | September 30, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States | Catchweight (215 lb) bout. |
| No. | Event | Fight | Date | Venue | City | PPV Buys |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | UFC 283 | Teixeira vs.Hill | January 21, 2023 | Jeunesse Arena | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Not Disclosed[61] |
| 2. | UFC 300 | Pereira vs.Hill | April 13, 2024 | T-Mobile Arena | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Not Disclosed[62] |
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Jiří Procházka Vacated | 18thUFC Light Heavyweight Champion January 21, 2023 – July 14, 2023 | Vacant Title next held by Alex Pereira |
Updated to 8 March 2025 |
