Jamahal Hill was previously the light heavyweight champion and he never lost his title in the octagon. He was only forced to give up after suffering a torn Achilles tendon last July. After intensive rehabilitation, he is back and ready to prove that he is the rightful champion.
Alex Pereira, of course, made waves in the middleweight division with his knockout of Israel Adesanya in 2022, earning him his first championship in just his fourth UFC fight. The rematch ended with Pereira lying unconscious on the mat, prompting his inevitable move up to light heavyweight. There, he defeated Jan Błachowicz to earn a shot at the belt, and he knocked aside Jiri Prochazka in November to win his second UFC championship.
Pereira is a very dangerous striker and any time he gets the chance to get up and exchange he will pose a major threat. He is deeply experienced, technical and powerful, which is a unique combination in the higher weight classes.
Meanwhile, Hill has never even attempted a takedown, so the assumption is that these two fighters are going to stay standing. Hill doesn’t have the same technical pedigree as Pereira, but he has some tools that can cause Pereira problems.
Most notably, Hill is ready to throw a lot of volume, and he’s coming off a win in which he landed 232 significant strikes. His boxing may not be technically superb, but it’s decent, and his cardio, volume, and durability are all strong attributes of his game.
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UFC 300 predictions and odds: Pereira vs. Hill highlights busy fight card