Jamahal Hill’s reign as Final Combating Championship (UFC) mild heavyweight champion was short-lived after “Candy Goals” suffered an unlucky damage, tearing his Achilles in mid-2023 which required surgical procedure and subsequent months of rehab.
Because of the damage — which got here simply six months after he received the vacant strap by defeating Glover Teixeira at UFC 283 — Hill opted to vacate his title to forestall the division from stalling. In flip, Alex Pereira received the vacant title by knocking out Jiri Prochazka at UFC 295 (see it once more right here).
Now seven months faraway from surgical procedure, Hill is on the comeback and might be returning to motion in the summertime of 2024. That’s in keeping with his supervisor, Brian Butler, who advised MMA Junkie Radio that Hill’s restoration goes as deliberate.
“He’s coming alongside nicely. I’m not a health care provider and I’m not ready to talk as to how shortly he can come again, and I believe it’s just a little preemptive now to place any dates on that. However his purpose is to return again in and round that point (of Worldwide Struggle Week).
“However I simply don’t know. However I do know he’s working laborious. He’s moved to Vegas and he’s staying there to make the most of the (UFC Efficiency Institute) and the companies there with the excellent staff there that’s serving to him recuperate.”
So far as shot at reclaiming the 205-pound strap he left behind, Butler revealed that “Candy Goals” will battle for the title immediately, no matter who’s sitting on the throne on the time of his return.
“No (there received’t be a warmup battle). He will get a title shot immediately.”
Hill is at the moment on a four-fight win streak and is 6-1-1 thus far in his UFC profession. As for Pereira, he at the moment doesn’t have his first title protection lined up, however with UFC 300 set for April 13, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada, “Poatan” might very nicely be added to that card if matchmakers need to go huge.
