The
Ultimate Fighting Championship light heavyweight title picture
has turned into an online battleground.
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Former champs Jamahal
Hill (12-2) and Jiri
Prochazka (30-5) are scheduled to fight at UFC 311
on Jan. 18 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, California. Hill,
Prochazka and fellow contender Magomed
Ankalaev (19-1) have been recently trading multiple barbs, with
champ Alex
Pereira (12-2) also joining the fray on occasion.
Hill took multiple digs at Prochazka and Ankalaev in recent
interviews, although not entirely unprovoked. Hill went off on
Ankalaev in an expletive-laden rant in response to the Russian
mocking him for being passed on for the title shot. While both Hill
and Prochazka are coming off losses against Pereira, “Sweet Dreams”
claims the Czech was dominated while he got caught by a lucky
shot.
Pereira responded to Hill’s recent comments, promising him a
rematch if he gets past “BJP.”
The Brazilian wrote on X: “Calm down, my son. Pass this test and
Dad will give you a second chance.”
Hill clapped back by bringing up the controversy in his loss
against Pereira. Pereira brushed off a low blow from Hill and
stopped referee Herb Dean from
pausing the action right before landing the knockout blow. Hill
claims Pereira took the opportunity and capitalized on his
momentary lack of focus.
Beat it funny how you rushed lil ass
roundtree and dumbass Jiri like you were the man but waited until
the refs got in the way to swing at me!!! You will see me again at
100% soon and we both know the fear that was in your heart!!
https://t.co/ARC4XQyNQq— Jamahal Hill (@JamahalH)
November 30, 2024
Meanwhile, Ankalaev is expecting the next title shot against
“Poatan,” after Khalil
Rountree Jr. passed him for the previous opportunity despite
the Dagestani being widely considered the rightful contender.
Ankalaev is certain that he will fight Pereira next, likely
sometime next summer. Reiterating his claim to the next gold bid,
Ankalaev warned Pereira about an impending showdown.
See you soon son 👦🏻
— Magomed Ankalaev (@AnkalaevM)
November 29, 2024
Ankalaev hasn’t lost in 13 fights since suffering his lone career
loss against Paul Craig
in his UFC debut in 2018. Meanwhile, Pereira is on a five-fight
winning streak that includes a title win over Prochazka and
subsequent defenses against Hill, Prochazka and Rountree. And Hill
saw a four-fight winning streak snapped in his loss against
“Poatan” at UFC 300 this past April. Meanwhile, Prochazka has
sandwiched a come-from-behind victory over Aleksandar
Rakic between his title losses against Pereira.