UFC light heavyweight Jamahal “Sweet Dreams” Hill was surprised in the moment to get a title shot against Glover Teixeira, but he is confident looking at the fight now. Hill appeared on a recent episode of The MMA Hour to discuss how he heard the news, and how he expects the big night at UFC 283 to go down.
“I got a call from my manager, and he asked me if I wanted to fight Glover in Rio for the belt. Easy yes. The thing was surprising was how quick they called, but it’s not really that surprising once you think about it, the state of where the division right now.
How Jamahal Hill Got His UFC Title Shot
I had a feeling they didn’t want to leave the belt vacant, you’ve got me and [Anthony] Smith scheduled to fight… I figured it was a possibility. I figured I would be next in line just because of the misfortune with the leg injury that happened to Smith. Unfortunately, he still lost that fight, so I figured I would be next.”
Hill looks forward to the bout, even if he knows he will be at a disadvantage facing Glover Teixeira on home turf in Brazil. “I think it’s going to be lit.
I’ve seen the cards in Brazil, seen the energy, seen them hype and all that. I always figured if I was going to fight in Brazil, I was going to be fighting a Brazilian. … I’m going to enjoy it. I’m going to enjoy the energy, I’m going to enjoy the excitement. I get to be here.
This is a moment that many have dreamed of. Many have walked through the UFC octagon doors and dreamed of fighting for a title. I’m one of the few that get to do it. What is there not to enjoy? What is there not to be grateful for?”
As for the fight itself, Hill predicts a characteristic early finish. “I think I win, dominantly. Dominantly, because that’s what I train for. I train for nothing short of dominance. I don’t care who it is, I don’t care what pedigree everybody thinks and says he has over me, matchups make fights. Everybody always keeps saying this, but within a matchup there are different things that people do, and I am different. I am different.
I think it could very well end early, but if I need to put it on him — he’s durable. He’s durable and he’s willing to bang out, he’s willing to go through the fire. So if I’ve got to put him through the fire, the guns are on deck.”
Do you agree with Hill’s prediction? Let us know in the comments.
