UFC's Jamahal Hill: Magomed Ankalaev vs. Alex Pereira rematch 'really up in the air'
UFC's Jamahal Hill: Magomed Ankalaev vs. Alex Pereira rematch 'really up in the air'
After a spot-on prediction for the first fight between Magomed Ankalaev and Alex Pereira, Jamahal Hill has given his take on the potential rematch.
Ankalaev (21-1-1 MMA, 12-1-1 UFC) dethroned Pereira (12-3 MMA, 9-2 UFC) to claim the light heavyweight title at UFC 313, and the pair are expected to run things back later in the year. Not only did Hill predict an Ankalaev win at UFC 313, but he detailed how Ankalaev's striking would be slept on in the matchup.
Having lost to Pereira by knockout at UFC 300, many accused Hill (12-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) of being a salty competitor. However, Hill's prediction proved to be accurate, with Ankalaev outstriking and even stumbling Pereira on the feet.
"I will say people were thinking I was hating, which is crazy," Hill told MMA Junkie. "I just try to be real and authentic and say things the way that I see them and speak on how I feel. I guess realness rubs people the wrong way sometimes, I guess? So, it is what it is. I think there's adjustments that can be made by Alex that aren't huge adjustments.
"He could change that fight and turn that fight around, but at the same time, there are also adjustments that Ankalaev can make that can make him win more convincingly and more dominantly. So, I think it's really, really up in the air. It's like who pinpoints these things and who makes those adjustments. That's what it's going to come down to ultimately."
Many fighters such as Michael Chiesa, Anthony Smith, Dustin Poirier, and most recently Stephen Thompson have served as analysts on the ESPN desk. With Hill providing extensive and well thought out breakdowns on his YouTube channel, he also hopes to make the transition some day.
"It's a job, and it's a job that pays and something that I enjoy doing," Hill said. "I got my YouTube channel where I do breakdowns. I haven't done any recently because I've been busy with my own thing to get ready and locked in for the fight.
"I've been in camp. I've been wanting to spend time with family and things like that. But yeah, it's definitely something that I'd like to do. Just being able to talk about fights, break down dialogue about it, just throw out different theories and ideas of how I see it, seeing somebody else's way of how they might see it. I love that."
Former champion Hill will look to re-enter the title picture when he meets Khalil Rountree in Saturday's UFC on ABC 8 (ABC, ESPN, ESPN+) main event at Baku Crystal Hall in Baku, Azerbaijan.
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