Jamahal Hill

Jamahal Alexander Hill (; born May 19, 1991) is an American professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Light Heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. As of June 20, 2026, he is #5 in the Meta UFC light heavyweight rankings.

Early life

Hill moved to Grand Rapids when he was 12. He graduated from Rogers High School in Wyoming, Michigan. After passing on a basketball career at Davenport University, Hill started competing in professional mixed martial arts in 2017.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career Hill started his professional career in 2017 with a 5–0 record, four of the five fights coming under the KnockOut Promotions banner. In just his fourth professional fight Hill defeated future UFC fighter Dequan Townsend despite Townsend having twenty-six pro appearances prior to that bout.

Hill then received the call to appear on Dana White's Contender Series 21 back in 2019, where Hill defeated opponent Alexander Poppeck via second-round ground and pound, earning his UFC contract.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Hill made his UFC debut against Darko Stošić on January 25, 2020, at UFC Fight Night 166. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Hill faced Klidson Abreu on May 30, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Woodley vs. Burns. He initially won the fight via technical knockout in the first round, but the fight was later overturned on September 3 because Hill tested positive for marijuana. He was suspended six months and fined 15% of his fight purse. At the weigh-ins, former interim UFC Light Heavyweight Championship challenger Ovince Saint Preux weighed in at 207.5 pounds, one and a half pounds over the light heavyweight non-title fight limit. The bout proceeded at a catchweight and Saint Preux was fined 20% of his individual purse, which went to Hill. Hill won the fight via technical knockout in the second round.

Hill was scheduled to face Paul Craig on March 20, 2021 UFC on ESPN 21. However, on March 10, Hill withdrew from the bout after testing positive for COVID-19. The pairing with Craig remained intact and took place on June 12, 2021, at UFC 263. After having his elbow dislocated early in the fight via an armbar from Craig, Hill lost the fight via technical knockout in the first round.

Hill was scheduled to face Jimmy Crute on October 2, 2021 UFC Fight Night 193. However, in early September, the bout was rescheduled two months later at UFC on ESPN: Font vs. Aldo. He won the fight via knockout in the first round. This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.

In his first UFC main event, Hill faced Johnny Walker on February 19, 2022, at UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Hill. He won the fight via knockout in the first round. The win earned Hill his second Performance of the Night bonus award.

Hill faced Thiago Santos on August 6, 2022, at UFC on ESPN 40. He won the fight via technical knockout. This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award.

UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Teixeira vs. Hill

Hill was scheduled to face Anthony Smith on March 11, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 221. However, Hill was pulled from the bout after being rebooked to headline UFC 283 for the vacant UFC Light Heavyweight Championship against Glover Teixeira on January 21, 2023. He won the bout and title via unanimous decision, and in the process became the first Dana White's Contender Series alumn to win a UFC championship. This fight earned him the Fight of the Night award.

Injury and vacating the title

On July 14, 2023, Hill announced via his YouTube page that he had ruptured his Achilles tendon playing a fighter basketball game during UFC International Fight Week, and that he would be relinquishing the UFC Light Heavyweight title.

Pereira vs Hill Hill faced Alex Pereira for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship in the main event of UFC 300 on April 13, 2024. He lost the fight by knockout in the first round.

Post championship Hill was scheduled to face Khalil Rountree Jr. at UFC 303 on June 29, 2024. However, Rountree was forced to withdraw from the event due to taking a banned substance, and was replaced by Carlos Ulberg, who was eventually replaced by Roman Dolidze. Hill, in turn withdrew due to injury and was replaced by Anthony Smith.

Hill faced former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jiří Procházka on January 18, 2025 at UFC 311. He lost the fight by technical knockout in the third round.

Hill was scheduled to face former UFC Light Heavyweight Championship challenger Khalil Rountree Jr. on April 26, 2025 in the main event at UFC on ESPN 66. However, Hill had to withdraw due to a leg injury, so the bout was scrapped. The bout was rescheduled and headlined UFC on ABC 8 on June 21, 2025. Hill lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Personal life Hill has six children, who ranged in age from 2 to 14 years old, as of June 2021. On November 28, 2023, Hill was arrested in Kent County, Michigan on a charge of aggravated domestic violence after allegedly assaulting his brother on the night of November 27. He was later released from custody after posting bail. Hill's first court hearing was scheduled for January 2024.

Championships and accomplishments Ultimate Fighting Championship UFC Light Heavyweight Championship (One time) Second highest significant strike differential in UFC championship history (+157 vs. Glover Teixeira) Second most significant strikes landed in a title fight (232 vs. Glover Teixeira) Fight of the Night (Two times) Second highest striking differential in UFC Light Heavyweight division history (3.4) Most distant strikes landed in a UFC Light Heavyweight bout (188) vs. Glover Teixeira UFC.com Awards 2020: Ranked #6 Newcomer of the Year 2022: Ranked #8 Fighter of the Year 2023: Ranked #5 Fight of the Year vs. Glover Teixeira KnockOut Promotions KOP Light Heavyweight Championship (One time) MMAjunkie.com 2022 February Knockout of the Month vs. Johnny Walker 2023 January Fight of the Month MMA Fighting 2022 Third Team MMA All-Star

Mixed martial arts record Loss

Khalil Rountree Jr. Decision (unanimous) UFC on ABC: Hill vs. Rountree Jr.

Baku, Azerbaijan Loss

Jiří Procházka TKO (punches) UFC 311

Inglewood, California, United States Loss

Alex Pereira KO (punches) UFC 300

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Glover Teixeira Decision (unanimous) UFC 283

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Thiago Santos TKO (punches and elbows) UFC on ESPN: Santos vs. Hill

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Johnny Walker KO (punch) UFC Fight Night: Walker vs. Hill

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Jimmy Crute KO (punches) UFC on ESPN: Font vs. Aldo

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Loss

Paul Craig TKO (elbows and punches) UFC 263

Glendale, Arizona, United States Win

Ovince Saint Preux TKO (punches) UFC on ESPN: Hermansson vs. Vettori

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States NC

Klidson Abreu NC (overturned) UFC on ESPN: Woodley vs. Burns

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Darko Stošić Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs. dos Santos

Raleigh, North Carolina, United States Win

Alexander Poppeck TKO (punches and elbows) Dana White's Contender Series 21

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

William Vincent TKO (retirement) Lights Out Championship 2

Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States Win

Dequan Townsend Decision (unanimous) KnockOut Promotions 62

Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States Win

William Vincent Decision (unanimous) KnockOut Promotions 61

Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States Win

Mike Johnson TKO (punches) KnockOut Promotions 59

Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States Win

Alex Davidson Decision (unanimous) KnockOut Promotions 58

Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States Pay-per-view bouts