[autotag]Jamahal Hill[/autotag] takes issue with the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings.
Hill (12-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC), a former UFC light heavyweight champion, opted to vacate his belt after rupturing his Achilles tendon.
“Sweet Dreams” says he was never in the top 10 of the UFC’s pound-for-pound rankings when he became champion, and was removed from the list when he relinquished his title.
“When I won the title, I can’t think of the last time somebody became a champion and they were ranked outside of the top 10 pound-for-pound rankings,” Hill said on the Overdogs Podcast. “Go look at anybody else who’s won a title. Sean O’Malley, it doesn’t matter who it is. They were put in the top 10.
“(Alexandre) Pantoja, they were all put in the top 10. If you win a title, you’re already top of a weight class. They never put me above 12. Jiri (Prochazka) is still on the pound-for-pound list. I was taken off the pound-for-pound list, which is cool, but it’s a way to gauge the respect and the perception.”
Hill doesn’t only think he’s discredited rankings-wise, but also skills-wise. The 32-year-old, who’s on a four-fight winning streak, is expected to challenge UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira upon his return.
“I’m disrespected in every aspect,” Hill said. “(It’s) got me f*cked up all over the place, but it is what it is. People look at it like I’m a knockout guy, but I’m a martial artist. I’m a champion for a reason. I didn’t come in one-dimensional. I don’t think I can just go in and punch everybody to sleep. I understand I’m going to have to be versatile in my game and be able to win in different areas to ultimately stay where I want to be, on top of this game in this division. … The proper respect ain’t put to my name.
“People that don’t even mean to, but they’re sleeping and they don’t understand what the f*ck I am and what I’m really doing – which is cool for me. Part of my success is the fact that people have me underestimated and they’ve got me twisted. If you don’t know what to expect, how can you be ready? How do you prepare for it?”