Jamahal Hill faces an enormous task ahead of him at UFC 300. Taking on Alex Pereira in the main event in the headliner of the biggest event in the promotion’s 30+ year run, all eyes will be on the former champ. As such, there has been a lot of talk regarding his confidence coming into the fight.
For those unaware, Jamahal ‘Sweet Dreams’ Hill will be fighting to reclaim his former title at UFC 300. Previously, Hill clinched the vacant light heavyweight title at UFC 283 in January 2023. Thereafter, Hill’s reign was over before it really began owing to an Achilles injury at International Fight Week in June.
Thus, the Contender Series alum has been waiting on the sidelines ever since, biding the time for his return. Having completed his recovery and rehabilitation at the UFC PI in Las Vegas, NV, Jamahal Hill is showing no shortage of confidence coming into the fight. Naturally, it has become a big talking point among fans, fighters, and experts alike.
Joe Rogan believes that people are underestimating Jamahal Hill ahead of UFC 300
For the most part, it is common for fighters to have confidence coming into their fights. Like Jamahal Hill, there have been many other fighters in the past who have outwardly spoken about beating their opponents before the fight. However, in Hill’s case, he has faced a lot of backlash and ridicule for claiming that he can beat Alex Pereira.
Naturally, the matter was also touched upon by Joe Rogan at the JRE MMA Show #154 with Matt Serra, Din Thomas & John Rallo. According to the podcaster and UFC commentator, the matchup is much more in the balance than a lot of people realize:
“People underestimate (Hill) for some strange reason, and I don’t understand it… Jamahal is a one-punch knockout striker at light-heavyweight.
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A lot of people are picking Pereira to run him over. I’m not sure about that man.”
Notably, Joe Rogan has been one of the biggest advocates for Alex Pereira, even before he captured the middleweight throne. Thus, with Rogan also having witnessed the capacity of violence that Jamahal Hill possesses, he feels much differently than a lot of other people.
With Alex Pereira’s remarkable resume and achievements in the sport, it is easy to see why many fans are swayed in his favor. However, level-headed viewers believe that Hill can firmly contest everything that Pereira has to offer.
What have Demetrious Johnson and others said about Jamahal Hill ahead of UFC 300
All things considered, Alex Pereira is by far the more accomplished and popular fighter out of the two. However, all that accounts for very less when he steps inside the Octagon with Jamahal Hill, who will be looking to knock his head clean off. As such, Jamahal and his conviction have also been discussed by many others in the MMA space.
Notably, Demetrious Johnson simply broke out into laughter after Hill stated, with full confidence, that he would be knocking out Pereira. At a second glance, ‘Mighty Mouse’ was rather entertained by Jamahal’s display of confidence, and the fact that he was willing to stand against possibly, one of the best strikers in MMA right now. Here it must be added, that Johnson also imparted a lot of guidance for Hill as well.
Similarly, Jiri Prochazka, who was meant to face Jamahal Hill and has already faced Alex Pereira, stated that the former champ possesses much more in his arsenal than his Brazilian counterpart. Lastly, Michael Bisping also spoke about how and why the matchup is much closer and bigger than people are giving it credit for. Thus, all will be revealed in just a weeks’ time when the two fighters finally step inside the Octagon.