Jamahal Hill is following Alex Pereira’s footsteps.
This past weekend, Pereira made his official move up to heavyweight, losing to Ciryl Gane for the interim heavyweight title at UFC White House. And while he’s not going to be fighting for the title immediately like “Poatan” did, Hill says he’s also jumping up in weight.
“I’m gonna go ahead and say it now: I’m going to heavyweight,” Hill announced on his YouTube channel. “That’s the announcement. Breaking news. I’m officially going to say it. I’m going to heavyweight. It’s been something I’ve been working on now for a few months, putting on the necessary weight and putting on the muscle and everything like that to move up.”
Like Pereira, Hill is a former light heavyweight champion, though he’s on a run of bad form since losing to Pereira at UFC 300. Hill has lost three straight, including most recently dropping a decision to Khalil Rountree Jr. last June.
Hill has been out of action since then due to a knee injury, but he anticipates a return by the end of 2026 or early 2027, and he believes that lines up perfectly for his heavyweight debut.
“Wouldn’t it be better if I came back and won the heavyweight title?” Hill said. “I think double champ is better than two-time champ. I like the way it sounds. And as far as Hokit goes, that’s what I want. That’s exactly the fight I want.”
Hokit also competed this past weekend, stopping Derrick Lews in an undercard bout at UFC White House. Afterward, Hokit called for a fight with Pereira — a bout he’s been lobbying for over the past few months — despite Pereira’s loss. But Hill says that’s unlikely to happen, so he would make perfect sense instead.
“He’s not going to get Alex,” Hill said. “Alex has no reason to give him that fight. … 100 percent, Josh Hokit is the fight that I want for my UFC heavyweight debut. Why not? Former UFC champion. Come on. …
“I think what’s next for Josh Hokit is me. I think I’m next. I think we should run it next. Let’s run that. I’m coming up to heavyweight. That’s one I want. We should definitely run that.”
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