Tag: Featured

Jamahal Hill stakes his claim as the UFC’s king at 205 following Prochazka vs. Pereira announcement

Jamahal HillJamahal Hill doesn’t care who leaves UFC 295 as the light heavyweight champion. After suffering an injury that will force him to sit out for an extended period of time, ‘Sweet Dreams’ will lay back and watch two other fighters, Jiri Prochazka and Alex Pereira, compete for the belt that Hill believes is still rightfully […]

Jamahal Hill

Jamahal Hill doesn’t care who leaves UFC 295 as the light heavyweight champion.

After suffering an injury that will force him to sit out for an extended period of time, ‘Sweet Dreams’ will lay back and watch two other fighters, Jiri Prochazka and Alex Pereira, compete for the belt that Hill believes is still rightfully his.

In January, Jamahal Hill claimed the light heavyweight title following a five-round scrap with ex-champion Glover Teixeira. ‘Sweet Dream’ found himself thrust into the title picture after former champion Jiri Prochazka was forced to vacate the belt due to a severe shoulder injury that would require surgery.

In an ironic turn of events, Hill was forced to do the same, vacating his title after suffering a ruptured Achilles over the summer.

“A lot of people I’ve seen say ‘Ah, you weren’t really the champion…You only got this opportunity because Ji?í vacated the belt, because he was injured.’” Hill said in a video on his YouTube channel. “Yeah, and that was the case in which I got my opportunity. And whenever I got my opportunity against the same opponent that Ji?í himself was going [to fight again] to basically put the stamp of legitimacy on his title reign.”

Jamahal Hill Breaks Down the Difference Between Himself and Jiri Prochazka

Though their circumstances are similar, Jamahal Hill believes that he is still the rightful king of the light heavyweight division after comparing their individual clashes with recently retired 205’er, Glover Teixeira.

“He got the submission [against Teixeira] but he got his a** whooped for the good majority of that fight. I can’t look at somebody as a ‘king’ who’s got their a** whooped on some of the occasions he’s had. He’s lost some rounds very, very significantly in the past. We’ve seen him rocked, we’ve seen him hurt. You’ve never seen me rocked, you’ve never seen me hurt. You’ve never seen me wobbled, you’ve never seen me just dominated. So I am the king. Until I come back and I’m given my proper opportunity to stand on that and defend what’s mine, I look at myself as the king” (h/t MMA News).

Jamahal Hill is not expected to be cleared for action until 2024, but rest assured that whoever comes out of UFC 295 with the title, they will be the first order of business for ‘Sweet Dreams’ once he makes his return to the Octagon.

‘Rampage’ Jackson reveals what UFC CEO Dana White said that soured their relationship

RampageDon’t expect Octagon icon Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson to bury the hatchet with UFC CEO Dana White anytime soon. It’s been nearly a decade since the former light heavyweight champion has competed under the UFC banner and ‘Rampage’ is still admittedly seething over what he perceived to be a showing of disrespect from White following one […]

Rampage

Don’t expect Octagon icon Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson to bury the hatchet with UFC CEO Dana White anytime soon.

It’s been nearly a decade since the former light heavyweight champion has competed under the UFC banner and ‘Rampage’ is still admittedly seething over what he perceived to be a showing of disrespect from White following one of his final appearances with the promotion.

“I think I fell out with Dana when I lost to Ryan Bader in Japan,” Jackson said on his JAXXON podcast. “I got injured before that fight, and I called Dana right away. I said, ‘Man, I tore, I got a partial tear in my meniscus.’ He said ‘What are you gonna do?’ I said ‘Sh*t, man, it’s Japan. I still want to fight. F*ck it, I’m still going to fight. I want to fight.’ It was Japan. I love fighting in Japan.

“So when I went there and I fought, and I lost by decision, the first thing Dana did in the press conference is, like, ‘I don’t know what’s going on with Rampage. I don’t think he has it. I don’t think he wants it anymore.’

“I was like ‘Man!’ … After all that sh*t Dana did to me when he did that sh*t, that’s when I got kind of pissed at him. I lost my love for fighting right there” (h/t MMA Fighting).

‘Rampage’ Believes Dana White Took His Work Ethic for Granted

After making a name for himself in PRIDE, ‘Rampage’ moved over to the UFC in 2007 and promptly claimed the 205-pound title via a first-round knockout of Chuck Liddell. Over the next six years, Jackson would compete against some of the biggest names in the division’s history, including Lyoto Machida, Forrest Griffin, Rashad Evans, Wanderlei Silva, Glover Teixeira, and Jon Jones.

Following three straight losses, ‘Rampage’ exited the promotion and headed to Bellator where he competed for another six years.

Throughout his illustrious career, Jackson was known to compete on a regular basis and is said to have never once backed out of a fight until Dana White threw him under the bus that night.

“I never pulled out of a fight,” Jackson continued. “I don’t pull out. I got four, five, six kids. I don’t pull out. I had never pulled out of a fight in my career. I never pulled out. And then after that when I got injured I started pulling out of fights.

“I said, ‘F*ck this sh*t,’ because you don’t get no respect for fighting injured, and I let Dana know right away that I was injured. For him to say that, it kind of made me look at him sideways.”

‘Chito’ Vera claims it’s entirely too easy to skirt USADA’s testing protocols: ‘You need like 20 grand’

Chito VeraBantamweight contender Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera is exposing how easy it can be to get around the United States Anti-Doping Agency’s testing protocols. Following his win over Pedro Munhoz at UFC 292, Vera finds himself on the cusp of his first title fight against newly-crowned bantamweight world champion, ‘Sugar’ Sean O’Malley. A month removed from his […]

Chito Vera

Bantamweight contender Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera is exposing how easy it can be to get around the United States Anti-Doping Agency’s testing protocols.

Following his win over Pedro Munhoz at UFC 292, Vera finds himself on the cusp of his first title fight against newly-crowned bantamweight world champion, ‘Sugar’ Sean O’Malley.

A month removed from his last outing, ‘Chito’ sat down with bodybuilder Bradley Martyn on his popular podcast, Raw Talk, to discuss the fight game and his potential title opportunity. During their conversation, Vera expressed his disdain for fighters who utilize banned substances, noting that it’s entirely too easy to work around USADA if you’ve got the cash and the right doctor.

“Pussies that cheat to win tournaments and enhance with drugs; when people cheat, they do drugs to be faster,” Vera said. “I’m talking (in) competition. If you wanna be a f**king big guy, be a big guy, cool. But fighting, specific. It’s too f**ked up. I think there’s a lot of people taking it because it’s so easy to beat USADA. You need like 20 grand. Call a good doctor, boom” (h/t BJPenn.com).

He continued, “A good doctor will give you good products. He will tell you how to clean yourself. USADA only comes 6am to 6pm. I would love if USADA knock on your door at 4am, 10pm, 3pm — random, because they have this window. So, I can go to the f*cking mountains in Ecuador and tell them I’m hunting. I’ll be doing EPO and sh*t. By the time I come back there’s nothing in me.”

This is far from the first time ‘Chito’ has expressed his own frustration over alleged cheating in mixed martial arts and he made it abundantly clear that he would never take anything that gave himself an unfair advantage inside the Octagon.

“I’d rather die before I cheat, bro,” Vera added.

‘Chito’ Vera claims it’s entirely too easy to skirt USADA’s testing protocols: ‘You need like 20 grand’

Chito VeraBantamweight contender Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera is exposing how easy it can be to get around the United States Anti-Doping Agency’s testing protocols. Following his win over Pedro Munhoz at UFC 292, Vera finds himself on the cusp of his first title fight against newly-crowned bantamweight world champion, ‘Sugar’ Sean O’Malley. A month removed from his […]

Chito Vera

Bantamweight contender Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera is exposing how easy it can be to get around the United States Anti-Doping Agency’s testing protocols.

Following his win over Pedro Munhoz at UFC 292, Vera finds himself on the cusp of his first title fight against newly-crowned bantamweight world champion, ‘Sugar’ Sean O’Malley.

A month removed from his last outing, ‘Chito’ sat down with bodybuilder Bradley Martyn on his popular podcast, Raw Talk, to discuss the fight game and his potential title opportunity. During their conversation, Vera expressed his disdain for fighters who utilize banned substances, noting that it’s entirely too easy to work around USADA if you’ve got the cash and the right doctor.

“Pussies that cheat to win tournaments and enhance with drugs; when people cheat, they do drugs to be faster,” Vera said. “I’m talking (in) competition. If you wanna be a f**king big guy, be a big guy, cool. But fighting, specific. It’s too f**ked up. I think there’s a lot of people taking it because it’s so easy to beat USADA. You need like 20 grand. Call a good doctor, boom” (h/t BJPenn.com).

He continued, “A good doctor will give you good products. He will tell you how to clean yourself. USADA only comes 6am to 6pm. I would love if USADA knock on your door at 4am, 10pm, 3pm — random, because they have this window. So, I can go to the f*cking mountains in Ecuador and tell them I’m hunting. I’ll be doing EPO and sh*t. By the time I come back there’s nothing in me.”

This is far from the first time ‘Chito’ has expressed his own frustration over alleged cheating in mixed martial arts and he made it abundantly clear that he would never take anything that gave himself an unfair advantage inside the Octagon.

“I’d rather die before I cheat, bro,” Vera added.

Jiri Prochazka issues warning to Alex Pereira ahead of UFC 295 title fight: ‘The champion will rise again’

Jiri ProchazkaJiri Prochazka is more than ready to run through another Brazilian if it means reclaiming the light heavyweight title. On Wednesday, UFC CEO Dana White made a series of blockbuster announcements regarding the promotion’s last two pay-per-views of the year. On November 11, former light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka will return to the Octagon for […]

Jiri Prochazka

Jiri Prochazka is more than ready to run through another Brazilian if it means reclaiming the light heavyweight title.

On Wednesday, UFC CEO Dana White made a series of blockbuster announcements regarding the promotion’s last two pay-per-views of the year. On November 11, former light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka will return to the Octagon for the first time in nearly a year in a bid to regain the 205-pound title that he never lost. Standing in his way will be Brazilian knockout artist and former middleweight champion, Alex Pereira.

The pair will feature in the co-main event of UFC 295, emanating from the world’s most famous arena, Madison Square Garden.

In June 2022, Jiri Prochazka captured the light heavyweight title in an instant classic with the former champion Glover Teixeira at UFC 275. The two fighters were set to run it back in December, but ‘Denisa’ suffered a shoulder injury that took him out of the fight, forcing him to vacate the 205-pound crown.

With the belt once again vacated following an injury sustained by Prochazka’s successor, Jamahal Hill, ‘Denisa’ will have the opportunity to make things right and once again claim the light heavyweight title.

Jiri Prochazka Will Be Ready for a Fight with Glover Teixeira’s Protégé

Meeting Jiri Prochazka in the co-main clash is Alex Pereira, a heavy-hitting Brazilian who has forged a close relationship with Prochazka’s last opponent, Glover Teixeira. The recently retired Teixeira will undoubtedly be in Pereira’s corner come UFC 295, giving Prochazka not one, but two Brazilian baddies to contend with in his highly anticipated return.

“I am glad to be able to face this Brazilian challenge again, even if in a different coat,” Prochazka wrote on X. “But that doesn’t change the fact that I will prepare well for this challenge and go for the win. It’s not just about the belt anymore, it’s about the performance and the path to victory.”

Making his Octagon debut in the summer of 2020, Jiri Prochazka only needed two big wins over Volkan Oezdemir and Dominick Reyes to secure his first shot at the light heavyweight title. Submitting Teixeira in a back-and-forth war to capture the crown, his title reign was cut frustratingly short after suffering a devastating shoulder injury.

‘Denisa’ goes into his second UFC title tilt with a 3-0 record inside the Octagon and 11-1 overall. Prochazka is almost eight years removed from his last defeat. He’ll look to keep that streak alive when he meets former GLORY Kickboxing world champion Alex Pereira at MSG in NYC this November.

Jiri Prochazka issues warning to Alex Pereira ahead of UFC 295 title fight: ‘The champion will rise again’

Jiri ProchazkaJiri Prochazka is more than ready to run through another Brazilian if it means reclaiming the light heavyweight title. On Wednesday, UFC CEO Dana White made a series of blockbuster announcements regarding the promotion’s last two pay-per-views of the year. On November 11, former light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka will return to the Octagon for […]

Jiri Prochazka

Jiri Prochazka is more than ready to run through another Brazilian if it means reclaiming the light heavyweight title.

On Wednesday, UFC CEO Dana White made a series of blockbuster announcements regarding the promotion’s last two pay-per-views of the year. On November 11, former light heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka will return to the Octagon for the first time in nearly a year in a bid to regain the 205-pound title that he never lost. Standing in his way will be Brazilian knockout artist and former middleweight champion, Alex Pereira.

The pair will feature in the co-main event of UFC 295, emanating from the world’s most famous arena, Madison Square Garden.

In June 2022, Jiri Prochazka captured the light heavyweight title in an instant classic with the former champion Glover Teixeira at UFC 275. The two fighters were set to run it back in December, but ‘Denisa’ suffered a shoulder injury that took him out of the fight, forcing him to vacate the 205-pound crown.

With the belt once again vacated following an injury sustained by Prochazka’s successor, Jamahal Hill, ‘Denisa’ will have the opportunity to make things right and once again claim the light heavyweight title.

Jiri Prochazka Will Be Ready for a Fight with Glover Teixeira’s Protégé

Meeting Jiri Prochazka in the co-main clash is Alex Pereira, a heavy-hitting Brazilian who has forged a close relationship with Prochazka’s last opponent, Glover Teixeira. The recently retired Teixeira will undoubtedly be in Pereira’s corner come UFC 295, giving Prochazka not one, but two Brazilian baddies to contend with in his highly anticipated return.

“I am glad to be able to face this Brazilian challenge again, even if in a different coat,” Prochazka wrote on X. “But that doesn’t change the fact that I will prepare well for this challenge and go for the win. It’s not just about the belt anymore, it’s about the performance and the path to victory.”

Making his Octagon debut in the summer of 2020, Jiri Prochazka only needed two big wins over Volkan Oezdemir and Dominick Reyes to secure his first shot at the light heavyweight title. Submitting Teixeira in a back-and-forth war to capture the crown, his title reign was cut frustratingly short after suffering a devastating shoulder injury.

‘Denisa’ goes into his second UFC title tilt with a 3-0 record inside the Octagon and 11-1 overall. Prochazka is almost eight years removed from his last defeat. He’ll look to keep that streak alive when he meets former GLORY Kickboxing world champion Alex Pereira at MSG in NYC this November.