Tag: Jamahal Hill

Spinning Back Clique REPLAY: UFC 300 review, Holloway wins BMF title, Makhachev & McGregor return, more

On “Spinning Back Clique,” our panel discusses the fallout of UFC 300 including, Holloway’s BMF win, McGregor’s return, and more.

Check out this week’s “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly live show that takes a spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts.

This week’s panel of Brian “Goze” Garcia, Mike Bohn and Danny Segura will join host “Gorgeous” George Garcia live at 11:30 a.m. ET (8:30 a.m. PT) to discuss and debate everything around UFC 300:

  • The UFC reached its 300th pay-per-view event, a big milestone for the Las Vegas-based promotion. Where does this massive event rank in UFC history? On paper, it was a great card, and it delivered as promised.
  • [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] arguably made the biggest statement on Saturday night. The former UFC featherweight champion knocked out [autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag] in brutal fashion with one second remaining in the fight for the BMF title. So what’s next for Holloway? Should he stay at 155 pounds or go back to 145? Holloway has many options after this career-defining win.
  • On top of Holloway’s win, there were several other important lightweight bouts, as well as other lightweight bookings announced: [autotag]Arman Tsarukyan[/autotag] defeated former champion [autotag]Charles Oliveira[/autotag], [autotag]Renato Moicano[/autotag] stopped Jalin Turner and [autotag]Bobby Green[/autotag] picked apart Jim Miller. Additionally, the [autotag]Islam Makhachev[/autotag] title defense vs. [autotag]Dutin Poirier[/autotag] was made official, along with the return of [autotag]Conor McGregor[/autotag], who faces lightweight standout [autotag]Michael Chandler[/autotag] in a welterweight bout. Big news and results that heavily impact the UFC lightweight division.
  • In the main event of UFC 300, [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] successfully defended his light heavyweight belt for the very first time, knocking out [autotag]Jamahal Hill[/autotag]. It was a huge win for the Brazilian, who requested a heavyweight fight in a quick turnaround at UFC 301 in Brazil next month.
  • In the other undisputed title fight, [autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag] defended her UFC strawweight belt against fellow Chinese fighter [autotag]Yan Xiaonan[/autotag]. It was a solid showing by Weili, who logged the second title defense of her second championship reign.
  • [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] made a huge splash on Saturday night. In a dominant showing, she submitted former champion [autotag]Holly Holm[/autotag], a victory that even caught the attention of former two-division UFC champion [autotag]Amanda Nunes[/autotag]. What’s next for Harrison? Is she a future UFC champion? We unpack it all.
  • Lastly, several other big storylines went down at UFC 300. The panel quickly reviews [autotag]Aljamain Sterling[/autotag]’s featherweight debut, [autotag]Bo Nickal[/autotag]’s submission win, [autotag]Diego Lopes[/autotag]’ most recent first-round finish and more.

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UFC 300 ‘Embedded,’ No. 4: Headliner Jamahal Hill works on a slick 1/1 piece of memorabilia

In the fourth episode of UFC 300 “Embedded,” Jamahal Hill gets autographs from the fighters on the card – including his champ opponent.

One of the most highly anticipated fight weeks in UFC history is here with UFC 300, and the popular “Embedded” fight week video series is here to document what’s happening behind the scenes.

UFC 300 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

In the headliner, light heavyweight champion [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] (9-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC) puts that belt on the line for the first time against former champ [autotag]Jamahal Hill[/autotag] (12-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC), who vacated the title six months after he won it due to injury.

In the co-feature, women’s strawweight champion [autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag] (24-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) takes on [autotag]Yan Xiaonan[/autotag] (15-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC). The bout is the first all-China title fight in UFC history.

The “BMF” belt is on the line between current titleholder [autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag] (25-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) and former longtime featherweight champ [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] (25-7 MMA, 21-7 UFC), who is moving up to lightweight for the bout.

Plus, UFC 300 features the promotional debut of two-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time PFL champ [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] (16-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) against former women’s bantamweight champ [autotag]Holly Holm[/autotag] (15-6 MMA, 8-6 UFC) and five other former UFC champions on arguably the most stacked card in company history.

The fourth episode of “Embedded” follows the featured fighters while they get ready for fight week. Here is the UFC’s description of the episode from YouTube:

Bobby Green, Charles Oliveira, Xiaonan Yan and Jamahal Hill carve out time to train. Holly Holm goes coffee hunting. Fighter check in at UFC Apex, and headliner Hill gets autographs – including one from foe Alex Pereira.

Also watch:

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.

Glover Teixeira brushes off Israel Adesanya helping Jamahal Hill for UFC 300

Glover Teixeira isn’t concerned with Jamahal Hill reaching out to Israel Adesanya ahead of UFC 300.

[autotag]Glover Teixeira[/autotag] isn’t concerned with [autotag]Jamahal Hill[/autotag] reaching out to [autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] ahead of UFC 300.

Hill (12-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) sought advice from Adesanya ahead of his title fight against light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira (9-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC), which headlines UFC 300 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Adesanya has fought Pereira four times, including twice in kickboxing. Adesanya was able to win one meeting out of the four – their most recent one at UFC 287 where he won by knockout.

“He is a great fighter and, for sure, he’s in anybody’s corner, he’s going to help anybody,” Teixeira told CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri of Adesanya. “Anybody that comes and sees something different with a high level, he can definitely be a help, for sure, 100 percent. It’s just another help. If you say Izzy or Jon Jones, really some high-level guys, it’s all going to help big time because of the experience.

“It’s not something that’s going to be magic. I say that all the time about me being in Alex’s corner and people saying, ‘Great reason why Alex.’ No, it’s not. Alex would be a champion, he would be where he is, anybody with discipline that have any skills of martial arts would take Alex to the top. It’s him. It’s just the person he is.”

Teixeira retired after losing to Hill in their vacant light heavyweight title fight at UFC 283 in January. He will be able to provide valuable insight to Pereira, just like he did for their common opponent Jiri Prochazka.

“Alex was there rooting for me when I fought Jiri, and Jiri got his hand raised. We were all upset,” Teixeira said. “The next time, Alex went over there and got the title from him to become a champion, and we were all happy about it.

“It feels good in a way. Like, ‘Hey, man, this guy was happy last time, now we got him.’ Jamahal is the same way. It’s not a personal thing. It’s just a game. It’s just the sport. You go in and try to beat the guy that beat you. I don’t think Alex has that in his mind. He’ll fight anyone because you just want to keep that belt.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.

Alex Pereira expects Jamahal Hill to be 100 percent healthy at UFC 300: ‘He knows who he’ll be fighting’

Alex Pereira shares his opinion on Jamahal Hill time off and return from injury ahead of UFC 300.

LAS VEGAS – A lot has been said about [autotag]Jamahal Hill[/autotag]’s form entering UFC 300.

The former UFC light heavyweight champion will attempt to get the title back Saturday against champion [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] in the main event of the historic pay-per-view. This will be the first fight for Hill (12-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) since he relinquished his title in July after he ruptured his Achilles tendon.

Given the nature of the injury and the fairly quick recovery, some question if Hill be 100 percent come fight night, but Pereira (9-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC) isn’t one of them.

“I’m not really thinking too much about his time off and injury,” Pereira said at the UFC 300 media day Wednesday. “I’d like to think that if he’s here, and he accepted the fight, it’s because he’s 100 percent. He knows what kind of responsibility this is, and he knows who he’ll be fighting. In my mind, he’s good, and I’m going to do my part.”

This fight marks Pereira’s first title defense at light heavyweight. He was previously middleweight champion, but lost the belt to Israel Adesanya in a rematch a year ago. The Brazilian is eager to log in a UFC title defense, but knows he’s got a tough task.

“That’s my job, and I tried to do it the best I could,” Pereira said reflecting on his title defense loss at middleweight. “I tried to defend the belt, but I lost. I’m not the first person this happens to. I’m changing my mentality, and I’m someone that’s very realistic. I know I can lose, but in my mind, I’m here to fight and win.”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.

UFC 300 ‘Embedded,’ No. 3: ‘Just win, baby’

In the third installment of UFC 300 “Embedded,” Max Holloway gets a VIP tour of the Raiders’ Allegiant Stadium.

One of the most highly anticipated fight weeks in UFC history is here with UFC 300, and the popular “Embedded” fight week video series is here to document what’s happening behind the scenes.

UFC 300 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

In the headliner, light heavyweight champion [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] (9-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC) puts that belt on the line for the first time against former champ [autotag]Jamahal Hill[/autotag] (12-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC), who vacated the title six months after he won it due to injury.

In the co-feature, women’s strawweight champion [autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag] (24-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) takes on [autotag]Yan Xiaonan[/autotag] (15-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC). The bout is the first all-China title fight in UFC history.

The “BMF” belt is on the line between current titleholder [autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag] (25-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) and former longtime featherweight champ [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] (25-7 MMA, 21-7 UFC), who is moving up to lightweight for the bout.

Plus, UFC 300 features the promotional debut of two-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time PFL champ [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] (16-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) against former women’s bantamweight champ [autotag]Holly Holm[/autotag] (15-6 MMA, 8-6 UFC) and five other former UFC champions on arguably the most stacked card in company history.

The third episode of “Embedded” follows the featured fighters while they get ready for fight week. Here is the UFC’s description of the episode from YouTube:

Champ Alex Pereira teaches Nina Drama footwork. Diego Lopes shops from the shoes up. Calvin Kattar stays sharp. Max Holloway tours a Vegas landmark. Kayla Harrison, Bo Nickal and champ Zhang Weili get in PI time. Justin Gaethje appreciates his team.

Also watch:

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.

Coach: Jamahal Hill is ‘levels above’ Alex Pereira, will prove it at UFC 300

Jamahal Hill’s coach sees a big advantage in the striking against UFC champ Alex Pereira.

[autotag]Jamahal Hill[/autotag]’s coach sees a big advantage in the striking department against [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag].

Hill (12-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) challenges light heavyweight champion Pereira (9-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC 300 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Hill’s coach, Chad Pomeroy, is confident that his student will make it look easy standing up against Pereira.

“Jamahal did everything he needed to do to get that Achilles back to where it needed to be,” Pomeroy said on Episode 1 of UFC “Embedded.” “He’s ready to rock and roll, man, Saturday night. Everybody thinks Alex is this amazing striker.

“At the end of the day, Jamahal is levels above Alex Pereira. This fight needed to happen to show the world that Jamahal Hill is the best striker in the UFC. Everybody’s going to see it Saturday night. There’s going to be no question after that.”

Hill declared himself as the best striker in the UFC years ago in an interview with MMA Junkie Radio. Four of his past five wins have come by knockout, with the lone decision win in that stretch coming in a battering of Pereira’s mentor Glover Teixeira at UFC 283 to claim the vacant light heavyweight title.

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.

Israel Adesanya predicts Jamahal Hill will knock out Alex Pereira at UFC 300

Israel Adesanya offers an in-depth breakdown of the UFC 300 main event between Alex Pereira and Jamahal Hill.

[autotag]Israel Adesanya[/autotag] sees [autotag]Jamahal Hill[/autotag] stopping light heavyweight champion [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] early at UFC 300.

Pereira (9-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC), a former middleweight champ, makes his first 205-pound title defense against Hill (12-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) in Saturday’s headliner (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Adesanya has fought Pereira four times – twice in kickboxing, and twice in MMA. Adesanya is a combined 1-3 in those fights, but he knocked out Pereira in their most recent outing at UFC 287 and thinks “Poatan” is hittable.

“This fight, Alex is going to try and kick Jamahal’s legs. I don’t think that’s a f*cking secret,” Adesanya said on his YouTube channel. “That’s his thing. Jamahal knows this. Jamahal, I don’t think is scared. Jamahal has got knockout power, scary knockout power, as well.

“Alex can get knocked out. Something Jamahal said, which I don’t know if it was overlooked or not, he said, ‘Who is someone Alex Pereira has just outclassed in a fight? Not just knocked out, but like outclassed in a fight until he knocks them out.'”

Adesanya has confidence in Hill’s power but warns him of Pereira’s inevitable leg kicks.

“Jamahal is just going to try and touch him at some point,” Adesanya said. “But avoiding the leg kicks is the tricky bit, and I know Jamahal has some remedies for that. … Five rounds, so it’s going to be a slow start. The first round, they’ll figure each other out, get some shots off.

“Alex is going to be throwing the leg kick, and Jamahal will be finding his jab and trying to get his fist to Alex’s head. Not just the chin, but his head somewhere because the one with Johnny Walker, that was on the dome. I’m going to go Jamahal by KO, first two-and-a-half (rounds).”

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.

Video: Alex Pereira, Jamahal Hill cross paths ahead of UFC 300 main event

Alex Pereira signed an autograph for UFC 300 opponent Jamahal Hill when the two fighters bumped into each other in Las Vegas.

[autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] and [autotag]Jamahal Hill[/autotag] didn’t have to wait until the UFC 300 pre-fight press conference to see one another in the flesh.

The two main event fighters crossed paths Tuesday in Las Vegas and kept it professional. Pereira (9-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC) defends his UFC light heavyweight belt against Hill (12-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena.

During Tuesday’s interaction, Hill greeted Pereira and asked him to sign a hoodie before they shook hands and went their own ways.

Pereira most recently fought in November when he won the UFC light heavyweight title (vacated by Hill months prior) when he defeated Jiri Prochazka by TKO. The win marked his the start of his second divisional title reign in the UFC.

UFC 300 marks Hill’s first fight since he tore his Achilles tendon injury in a UFC fighter basketball game in July. He had won the UFC light heavyweight title in a dominant UFC 283 win over Glover Teixeira in January 2023 but then vacated due to the injury.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.

UFC 300 ‘Embedded,’ No. 2: Kayla Harrison arrives in Las Vegas, finds peace and quiet

On the second episode of UFC 300 “Embedded,” Kayla Harrison is in a calm state before a hectic fight week gets started.

One of the most highly anticipated fight weeks in UFC history is here with UFC 300, and the popular “Embedded” fight week video series is here to document what’s happening behind the scenes.

UFC 300 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

In the headliner, light heavyweight champion [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] (9-2 MMA, 6-1 UFC) puts that belt on the line for the first time against former champ [autotag]Jamahal Hill[/autotag] (12-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC), who vacated the title six months after he won it due to injury.

In the co-feature, women’s strawweight champion [autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag] (24-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) takes on [autotag]Yan Xiaonan[/autotag] (15-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC). The bout is the first all-China title fight in UFC history.

The “BMF” belt is on the line between current titleholder [autotag]Justin Gaethje[/autotag] (25-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) and former longtime featherweight champ [autotag]Max Holloway[/autotag] (25-7 MMA, 21-7 UFC), who is moving up to lightweight for the bout.

Plus, UFC 300 features the promotional debut of two-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time PFL champ [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] (16-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) against former women’s bantamweight champ [autotag]Holly Holm[/autotag] (15-6 MMA, 8-6 UFC) and five other former UFC champions on arguably the most stacked card in company history.

The second episode of “Embedded” follows the featured fighters while they get ready for fight week. Here is the UFC’s description of the episode from YouTube:

Jiří Procházka, Jamahal Hill and more take in UFC Fight Night. Champion Alex Pereira gets a sendoff from his team. Diego Lopes, Justin Gaethje and Kayla Harrison explore Las Vegas. Bo Nickal wraps up camp in PA, while Max Holloway hits the PI.

Also watch:

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.

Video: Breaking down UFC 300’s title fights – Alex Pereira vs. Jamahal Hill, Zhang Weili vs. Yan Xiaonan

On this week’s episode of “Spinning Back Clique,” the panel breaks down the pair of title fights at UFC 300.

On the latest episode of “Spinning Back Clique,” the panel breaks down the two undisputed title fights at UFC 300.

In the main event, [autotag]Alex Pereira[/autotag] makes his first light heavyweight title defense against former champion [autotag]Jamahal Hill[/autotag], who returns from injury. In the co-main event, [autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag] takes on fellow Chinese fighter [autotag]Yan Xiaonan[/autotag] in a women’s strawweight title bout.

MMA Junkie’s Brian “Goze” Garcia, Danny Segura, Matthew Wells, and host “Gorgeous” George Garcia discussed the biggest angles of the pair of championship fights.

Watch their discussion in the video above, and also don’t miss this week’s complete episode of “Spinning Back Clique” below on YouTube.

https://youtube.com/live/fSjkR02NKpM

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For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 300.