Jamahal Hill knows improvement is required after a disappointing night in UFC Baku.
Hill was amongst those tasked with bringing UFC Octagon motion to Azerbaijan for the very first time in June. But ‘Sweet Dreams’ was unable to placed on a show for the local fans.
As an alternative, Khalil Rountree Jr. dominated Hill en path to a snug and lopsided decision victory, putting his name back into light heavyweight title contention.
The previous champ, meanwhile, has been left licking his wounds after one other difficult setback at UFC Baku.
Jamahal Hill admits he hasn’t been ‘on his level’ for some time after UFC Baku defeat
While once on a tear as an undefeated fighter, ‘Sweet Dreams’ has change into used to the sensation of defeat in recent times. Since Hill beat Glover Teixeira to win the title in early 2023, the American has lost all three of his subsequent bouts.
Getting back from the injury that ousted him from the sunshine heavyweight throne, Hill was brutally knocked out by Alex Pereira at UFC 300. This past January, the 34-year-old suffered an identical fate against his fellow ex-champ, Jiri Prochazka.
The one-sided loss by the hands of Rountree Jr last month has left Hill riding a three-fight losing skid and sitting removed from the title picture at 205 kilos.
And amid that run of results, Hill has made an honest assessment of his efforts away from the cage.
“To be honest, I haven’t been on my level. I haven’t been on my level now for quite a while,” Hill said on his YouTube channel.
“I believe people severely underestimate the injuries that I’ve handled. … An Achilles tear, to an athlete, is a career-ender. You then compile that with the injuries I’ve also handled, the tears within the knees, from trying to return back and force my way back within the timing that I did.
“I’ve gone against quite a lot of advice,” Hill added. “Before injuries, I used to be a natural. I’m a natural talent. Things got here naturally to me.
“My work and my output has to go up. I actually have to do more. I actually have to work harder, I actually have to grind harder. I’ve entered my last three camps, the bottom was possibly 260 kilos….that goes into that work. I cannot spend camp attempting to make weight.
“In that regard, I apologize to the people who have supported me. I actually have to be higher. I actually have to be higher with how I handle my body.”
Jamahal Hill not rushing back after third consecutive UFC setback
In the course of the same video, Hill suggested that fans mustn’t anticipate seeing him back within the Octagon anytime soon.
Believing his premature return from injury has factored into his losing form within the cage, ‘Sweet Dreams’ plans on healing fully before making the walk again.
“For now, I’m gonna take time,” Hill said. “Take the time I would like to make certain that I can get my injuries (healed), deal with my injuries, give them the time they need.
“I haven’t felt like myself in quite a while now. I haven’t been capable of do the things I like. I haven’t run because the injury…that’s something that has to alter.”