The UFC light heavyweight championship is vacant once again. The most recent champ, Jamahal “Sweet Dreams” Hill, announced via YouTube that a catastrophic injury has forced him to relinquish the title.
Hill apparently ruptured his Achilles tendon while playing basketball, and won’t be able to train, or fight, for quite some time.
UFC Light Heavyweight Champ Vacates Title Following DISASTROUS Injury
“I have unfortunately suffered an injury. I’ve ruptured my Achilles’ [tendon]. It’s just one of those things that happens. It’s a tough injury.
It’s one that will require surgery and will require time and rehab and things for me to be out for a while. Also with that, I was given an opportunity. I was given a blessing that came at the misfortune of someone else.
Jiri Prochazka was the champion, he suffered an injury as these things happen. He gave up the belt and allowed for others to not hold the division.
To keep the division moving forward. To keep entertaining. To make sure the people had a champion. I’ll do the same.
Right now, the biggest thing is focusing on my recovery, focusing on getting back to 100 percent. I need to take some time to focus on my health and make sure that I’m 100 percent and I’m the fighter that everybody knows who I am and who I’ve been since I’ve stepped into this.
In order to do that, I need to focus on healing and getting ready and rehabbing.” Hill earned the light heavyweight title by defeating Glover Teixeira at UFC 283. This came following the previous champion, Jiri Prochazka, vacating the title over a brutal shoulder injury.
Hill has already spoken with the UFC, who he claims support his choice to walk away from the top spot. There is no word yet as to who among the 205-pound rankings might compete for the vacant title, but Hill has been promised that he’ll be able to contend for the strap as soon as he’s able to fight.
“The show must go on and I’m not exempt from that. I’ve been promised that I will fight for my title immediately as soon as I am able as well as the other things that come with that.
It’s just part of the story. No matter what it is, history is going to be written. It’s just part of that history now. It’s just a test. I’m being tested and I will stand up to the challenge as a man and as a champion.”
