Jamahal
Hill took a major step toward contention with his victory over
former title challenger Thiago
Santos in the
UFC on ESPN 40 headliner, but “Sweet Dreams” nonetheless
believes there is plenty of room for improvement.
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“I’m happy with the win, but I’m not happy with my performance. I
need to get back to the drawing board and do a much, much better
job. That’s what I’m going to do,” Hill said at Saturday’s
post-fight press conference. “Always look to improve. Always need
to get better. Always. So even if it’s the smallest thing or it
could be something really small and stupid, I still need to improve
on it.”
The action was fast and furious at times between the two light
heavyweights at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, and that’s one area that
Hill would like to work on. While Hill ultimately outlanded his
opponent by an 89-to-53 count in significant strikes, those moments
where he engaged in a slugfest could leave him vulnerable.
“[I need to] be a little bit more patient. Don’t get drawn into
that firefight,” Hill said. “I got that dog in me sometimes so I
can get drawn into it so just stay disciplined. Stay
disciplined.”
While Hill and Santos traded wildly at times, “Marreta” also
adopted a wrestling-heavy approach that led to him shooting for 20
takedowns in the fight. In the third round alone, he grounded Hill
five times, but those efforts took a noticeable toll on his gas
tank. In the fourth round, Hill poured it on and earned a stoppage
with punches and elbows at the 2:31 mark. Santos has lost five of
his last six UFC appearances — but all of those defeats have come
against high-caliber opposition.
“I expected a war,” Hill said. “I expected a man that’s been up at
the top and fighting in battles at the top, fighting and battling
the top guys to not quit. To not back down, to not give an inch in
there and to bring it. I made mistakes and he made me pay for them.
I’m coming. I don’t stop. I don’t know how to stop coming.”
Hill is in the midst of a three-fight winning streak that also
includes first-round knockouts of Johnny
Walker and Jimmy
Crute. The Dana White’s Contender Series has lost just once — a
TKO defeat to Paul Craig
at UFC 263 — in seven Octagon appearances overall. Hill now has his
sights set on the top of the division, including reigning 205-pound
champion Jiri
Prochazka.
“I want a shot at Jiri. I’ve been calling for Jiri for about two
years now,” Hill said. “I want him. I don’t care if he’s the
champion. I’ve got twice as many wins as he does in this
organization. I want him.
“I can’t get him, give me the man that used to sit on the throne.
I’ll take Jan [Blachowicz]. I’m hungry. I want gold. The lion is
hungry for gold. Present or former.”